4 
The Colorado Experiment Station 
opening and closing the four horny processes at its tip. The depth 
of the hole depends upon the texture of the soil and the length of 
the abdomen of the hopper in question, the eggs being deposited 
between one-half and one and one-half inches from the surface. 
Upon completing this operation, the female deposits her eggs 
(Plate 1, Fig. 1), beginning at the bottom and gradually laying 
them singly and obliquely across the hole, at the same time cov¬ 
ering the entire mass with a frothy mucilaginous substance which 
is secreted from the abdomen and forms a protective covering 
against dryness, excessive moisture, and, possibly, parasites. 
All our injurious grasshoppers pass the winter in the egg 
stage. Active oviposition commences about the middle of August 
and extends thru the remaining warm days of fall, at least to the 
middle of November. Hatching begins in the following spring 
with the advent of the warm days of May and early June, and con¬ 
tinues over an extended period, there being a great variation in 
time of hatching, as in oviposition. 
The number of eggs laid varies with the species, generally 
ranging from 40 to 120. There are usually two egg-clusters de¬ 
posited by the same female. 
The individual eggs are cylindrical, about three- to four-six¬ 
teenths of an inch in length, curved slightly, and of a yellowish 
color. (Plate 1, Fig 2.) 
Nymphs .—Upon hatching, the young hoppers, or nymphs, 
readily force their way to the surface of the soil thru the protect¬ 
ive covering of the egg mass. The young hoppers closely resemble 
the adult, except that they are wingless and the head’is very large 
and out of proportion with the rest of the body. They are very 
pale in color at first, but soon take on the coloration of their sur¬ 
roundings which, together with their small size, makes them very 
inconspicuous. 
After hatching, the nymphs remain grouped for a day or two, 
but they soon develop ravenous appetites and begin feeding upon 
any green herbage. They do not feed at night, but usually crawl 
upon some grass stem or other object, where they remain until it 
begins to warm up the following day. 
During the process of development, the nymphs molt a series 
of times, each successive skin being larger than the preceding one, 
and it is in this manner that the insect grows. When ready to molt, 
the hopper ceases feeding, crawls on some grass stem or other ob¬ 
ject, and fastens itself thereto by its hind claws, head downward. 
Thus it hangs motionless for several hours. The thorax or middle 
part of the body gradually swells until the skin splits down the 
