ORTHOPTERA. 
ORTHOPTERA. 
Leaving tlie Rhyncota, we come to the Orthop- 
tera, the Insects constituting this Order having each 
a mouth formed for biting. The word Orthoptera 
(from orthos , “straight/’ and pteron , “ a wing”), is 
applied to this order, because all the insects be¬ 
longing to it are distinguished by their posterior 
wings, which are generally large and strongly reticulated, 
being longitudinally folded when at rest. The metam¬ 
orphosis is incomplete, both larva and pupa being in 
this order, as in the preceding one, active, and resem¬ 
bling the perfect insect, except that the former has no 
wings, and the latter only rudiments. The abdomen 
often terminates in two bristle-like appendages forming 
an ovipositor. The insects belonging to this order often 
assume strange and grotesque forms, such as leaves and 
sticks, hence called “ walking-leaves,” and “ walking- 
sticks,” as the Fhyllium Siccifolium , and the Bacteria 
fragilis ; they occur principally in warm climates, very 
few being found in Europe. The Orthoptera are divided 
into two large sections, viz., the Baltatorial and the 
• Cursorial; in the former the hind legs are always much 
lengthened and formed for leaping, as in crickets, grass¬ 
hoppers, and locusts. In the latter the legs are formed 
for running, as in the cockroaches. The Saltatorial Or¬ 
thoptera include three families, the Locustidse, the Gryl- 
lidae, and the Achetidae. The destructive species of 
the first family is happily seldom seen in this country. 
The fearful ravages of these insect-pests in localities they 
visit are well-known. 
