348 



General Biology 



However, all of this process does not take place in the body of the 

 grasshopper. Soon after fertilization the female drills a hole in the 

 ground with the hard portions of the ovipositor and deposits the eggs 

 which are then covered. These hatch in the spring. It is here, in its 

 warm underground cage, that most of the development described above 

 takes place. 



"By opening and shutting the ovipositor, a hole (Fig. 225), slightly 

 curved, is quickly drilled in the ground. This drilling process goes on 

 until nearly the entire abdomen is buried. Ovipositing females may 

 frequently be found in October. A frothy matter is first laid down from 

 the cement glands, then the eggs and cement are alternatively deposited 

 until some 20 to 35 eggs have been laid. Each individual egg is elongated 

 and slightly curved. The female ordinarily oviposits more than once, 

 averaging from 100 to 150 eggs in all. The eggs are placed side by 

 side in four rows, but standing obliquely to the wall in such a way 

 that all slant upward. Since they are all pushed tightly against the 

 wall of the cylindrical burrow the outside rows must project beyond 

 the two inner rows. In this way a channel filled with frothy matter is 

 left along the tops of the rows. Such a grooved arrangement insures the 

 escape of the young from the lower eggs in case those in the upper ones 

 die or are delayed in hatching. 



"Each egg is covered by two membranes: (1) an outer thin, semi- 



Fig. 227. Calopt'enus Spre'tus. 



Process of acquiring wings: a, Pupa with skin^ just 

 split on the back; b, the imago extending; c, the imago 

 nearly out; d, the imago with wings expanded; e, the imago 

 with all parts perfect, natural size. (After Riley.) 



opaque one which under a lens may be seen to be pitted or thrown into 

 ridges, and (2) an inner membrane (chorion) which is smooth and thick, 

 but so translucent that the young insect can be seen through it after 

 development has begun. While the outer covering is easily broken, the 

 inner is very resistant, requiring strong pressure between the fingers to 

 crush it. 



"At hatching time in the spring the struggles of the young locust, 

 together with the swelling of parts within the chorion, burst the latter, 

 generally along the ventral side, and the young locust struggles out of 

 its burrow. Once out, it rests a few minutes, generally lying on one side. 



