10(5 
ORTHOPTERA. 
little is known of their habits or life-histories and there is room here for 
a very extended investigation by an observer situated in the plains, 
where these little insects abound. 
ATTRACTION TO LIGHT 
Among the many methods adopted by Entomologists to obtain 
insects in number, the light trap is one of the simplest and most effica¬ 
cious. In India, the attraction of insects to light is so disagreeably and 
abundantly proved, that it is familiar to every one, though there is little 
exact information as to which insects come to light. The real difficulty 
is not to get the insects to come to light but to catch them in good condi¬ 
tion when they come. 
Generally speaking, a little is known as to the groups that are 
attracted by light and some careful collecting at light for a few years 
would soon furnish the data necessary to list the light-loving species. 
A curious point is the kind of light; the intense white of an arc light 
brings insects in hordes as can be seen on Howrah bridge or on a river 
steamer ; the same is true of the acetylene light, a very white intense 
light; the yellower oil light may attract fewer insects because of its less 
range but this is by no means certain. Whether coloured lights exert 
the same influence, and which colours are best would appear to be a pro¬ 
mising line of research, especially in relation to injurious insects as one 
might then be able to discriminate the harmful and not destroy the harm¬ 
less. Actually no experiments on this point seen to have been made 
in this country and our data refer to white light entirely. 
A consideration of the insects that are known to come to light in 
any country, has not, so far as we are aware, led to any facts concerning 
the nature of the attraction light exerts ; Crepuscular or Nocturnal 
insects are not attracted as a body, though naturally nearly all that 
are attracted to light are insects that are active after daylight. 
Only Hying insects are known to be attracted, but so far as we are 
aware all experiments have been made with a light elevated above the 
ground and without means of trapping walking insects. A considerable 
proportion that come are ground insects, such as the Ground beetles, 
but the proportion is only what one would expect when one considers how 
large is this part of the fauna. The principal families found at white light 
in India are mentioned below but this account is a very incomplete one. 
Blattids are rarely caught but some species have found their way 
to light traps. Of Acridiidce , Epacromia dorsalis is a very notable ex¬ 
ample, coming abundantly to lights even into houses. A small number 
