THE INSECT WORLD. 



85 



Fig. 



forms is in the tropics, where we find excellent examples of pro- 

 tective mimicry in the development of w4ngs so colored and 

 veined that the insects cannot be easily distinguished from the 

 foliage upon which they feed. Our own species have mere rudi- 

 ments of wings only ; but have very long, slender bodies, an- 

 tennae, and legs. When at rest, with long legs fully stretched 

 out, the resemblance to a bare twig or a torn leaf is perfect. 



The insects move slowly and awkwardly, feeding on the foliage 

 of a variety of forest trees, and are occasionally quite destructive. 

 They do not extend north of the Middle States 

 on the Atlantic Coast, but occur everywhere in 

 the Central and Southern States, reaching 

 northwardly in the Mississippi Valley much 

 further than in the East. So far as I am aware, 

 they never attack field or orchard crops, and 

 are not strictly injurious to agriculture, though 

 they may be to forestry. Unlike the families 

 previously mentioned, they take no care of their 

 eggs, but the females drop them at random upon 

 the ground. It has been said that in a badly- 

 infested piece of woodland the pattering of the 

 eggs as they fall from the trees sounds like rain. 



Thoroughly and carefully burning over in- 

 fested woodland during some favorable period 

 in winter will prove effective in case remedial 

 measures become necessary ; spraying with 

 arsenites can be resorted to for the protection 

 of single or small groups of trees. 



In the Saltatoria^ or ''jumpers," we find the 

 most destructive species, and they separate 

 readily into three families : the AcridiidcB, or 

 ' ' short-horned grasshoppers ;' ' the Locustidce, 

 or "long-horned grasshoppers" and "katy- 

 dids ;" and the GryllidcB, or " crickets," which 

 have long horns or antennae like the Locustidcs, 

 but cylindrical instead of flat, sword-like ovipositors. 



The Acridiidce, or short-horned grasshoppers, are among the 

 most common and best known of our insects, flying up or jump- 

 ing out of the way, however one turns, among grass or low herb- 



Egg masses of 

 Stagmomantis Car- 

 olina, from above 

 and from side. 



