88 



AN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



and these differ from the preceding in that the front meets the 

 top of the head in an even, obtuse curve. The species are 

 usually long-winged, and the thorax is either crested or rough 

 and tuberculate, with somewhat prominent and sharp angles. 

 Quite usually the hind wings are brilliandy red or yellow and 

 black, sometimes blue, and frequently contrasting in color. To 

 this sub-family belong those species that fly early in spring and 



green-striped locust (yCIiortophaga viridifascid), which occurs 

 over a large part of the United States, and has the hind wings 

 without strong contrasts ; and the large, red-winged Hippisciis 

 discoideus, which is more southern in its range, not extending 

 north of New Jersey. Species of this kind are most frequent in 

 barren, sandy, or partly desert regions, and few ever become 

 injurious. 



Among the troublesome forms are the Carolina locust," Dis- 

 sosteria Carolina, and the long-winged locust, Dissosteria longi- 

 pennis ; the first found throughout the United States, and easily 

 recognized by its large size and the ample, black, yellow-bordered 

 hind wings ; the latter a similar but somewhat longer-winged 

 western species, usually confined to the Rocky Mountain region, 

 but sometimes migrating for considerable distances from their 

 normal breeding-places. These species deposit their eggs in the 

 ground in the fall and the young hatch in the spring. 



The ' ' Carolina locust' ' is often met with in late fall, clinging 

 fast to the tops of plants, killed by a fungous disease which 

 ordinarily keeps the species within bounds. It is further con- 

 spicuous by its habit of poising a few feet from the surface, and 

 making a continuous " whirring" or rasping sound. 



The sub-family Acridiince is one of great extent, containing 

 those grasshoppers that have become famous by their evil deeds, 



Chortophaga viridifascia- — a, larva ; b, adult. 



Fig. 55. 



have wintered in 

 an immature stage, 

 ready for the trans- 

 formation to the 

 adult form as soon 

 as the weather per- 

 mits. Good ex- 

 amples of such 

 species are the 



