432 
Observations on the various Insects 
Gryllotalpa vulgaris. — The Mole-cricket. 
I cannot have a better opportunity than the present of intro- 
ducing the history of an insect which has ever been so destructive 
to various crops, that it is a dreadful scourge to the gardener^ 
one of whom, in an old work, said, " Happy are the places where 
this pest is unknown." * From its remarkable habits of life, 
extraordinary strength, and large size, its interesting history is as 
well known to naturalists as its depredations are to the cultivator. 
This animal has received its English names, of Mole-cricket 
and Earth-crab, from its burrowing like a mole, and some species 
of West-Indian crabs ; but it is formed more hke a lobster, and, 
from its supposed jarring song at night, it is also called Eve- 
churr, Churr-worm, and Jarr-worm. Mole-crickets inhabit 
every quarter of the globe ; in Germany and various parts of the 
Continent they abound in corn-fields and meadows, where they 
commit extensive ravages, and are dreaded in the market-garden, 
eating almost every plant that comes in their way. Although 
the north of Europe has been tolerably free from them, it appears 
they are gradually extending their northern bounds, and I am 
surprised that we have not more evidence of their spoliation in 
this country, for they are far from uncommon in many places, 
especially in damp situations, as round the margins of ponds and 
along the banks of streams. In the south of France, farmers and 
gardeners complain of the damage their crops of peas and beans 
sustain from the Mole-crickets. In Germany they have been 
known to destroy one-sixth, and even one-fourth, of a crop of 
young corn, by eating off the roots. In the Botanic Garden at 
Berlin their devastations are so extensive, that duplicates of the 
more tender and uncommon species of plants require to be kept 
in pots, and in the West Indies it is stated that a species of mole- 
cricket has for some years been destroying the pastures all over 
the Island of St. Vincent, and has now on many estates attacked 
the young plants and cane-stools. f 
The Mole-cricket differs from the field and house crickets very 
considerably in its economy, for although it resides under ground, 
it burrows like a mole horizontally, for which its prodigiously 
strong fore-feet are well adapted, and their strength is well sup- 
ported by the power of the body and other members ; for it is 
asserted, on the authority of Roesel, that it is capable of pro- 
pelling 6 lbs. weight on a smooth surface. J It remains con- 
cealed in its burrows during the day, where it can run equally 
• Introd. to Ent, vol. i. p. 159. 
t Probably the Gryllotalpa didactyla: vide Trans. Ent. Soc, vol. ii. p. 
xi. 
t Roesel's Insecten Belustigung, vol. ii. 
