Order ORTHOPTERA. 



{Crickets, Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, &€.) 



Char. Wings four, anterior pair thickened and 

 usually overlapping. Posterior wings thinner, and 

 folded in plaits longitudinally. 



Mouth-parts formed for biting. 



Metamorphosis incomplete. 



The name Orthoptera, straight wings, is given to this group on account 

 of the longitudinal folding, and position of the posterior wings when not 

 in use. 



There are many wingless genera. A few species have the anterior pair 

 only, and, in at least one instance, the anterior wings are wanting while 

 the posterior pair are present. In the earwigs the anterior wings are 

 thickened, and meet in a straight line down the back, resembling the 

 elytra of beetles. 



The mouth-parts are all present, and well developed. 



The larvae resemble the adult insects, but want wings. The pupa; are 

 active and have rudiments of wings. 



All the members of this order are terrestrial. The Mantidns are preda- 

 cious ; the remaining families are chiefly vegetable feeders. 



The insects belonging to the first section are interesting on account of 

 the sounds that they produce. They "stridulate in four different ways: 

 first, by rubbing the base of one wing-cover upon the other, using, for 

 that purpose, the veins running through the middle portion of the wing ; 

 second, by a similar method, but using the veins of the inner part of the 

 wing ; third, by ruubing the inner surface of the hind legs against 

 the outer surface of the wing covers ; and fourth, by rubbing together 

 the upper surface of the front edge of the wings and the under sur- 

 face of the wing-covers. The insects which employ the fourth method 



