surface, even during the late summer months. No doubt this is because the sand pit, 
which is situated within an area predominately of upland forest, borders a large 
wetland. 
The sand pit is undoubtedly of anthropogenic origin, appearing to have been used in 
the past for small-scale extraction. At present, it is largely dominated by early 
successional and weedy, non-native vascular plant species. 
Locusts were initially observed near the north-facing (southern) edge of the sand pit, 
which slopes steeply to a low area that often floods in spring and following heavy 
rains. Vegetation is very sparse to non-existent on this slope. A complete list of 
vascular plant species found nearby is given in Table 1. 
Subsequently, locusts were also observed on a southwest-facing sandy slope towards 
the northern edge of the sand pit. This slope is also adjacent to a low area that 
floods in spring. Vegetation on this slope is also very sparse but with a somewhat 
different species composition (Table 1). 
The lowest part of the sand pit supports some common wetland and riparian plants 
such as Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive fern), Typha sp. (Cattail). Phalaris 
arundinacea (Reed canary-grass), Scirpus cyperinus (Wool-grass), Juncus 
alpinoarticulatus (Rush), Salix lucida (Shining willow) and Cornus sericea (= 
Cornus stolonifera ) (Red-osier dogwood). However, wetland species do not flourish 
here. The plants of the genus Typha, and most of those belonging to the species 
Phalaris arundinacea, do not develop inflorescences during the growing season. 
Identification of Ontario Tridactylidae 
Having given the reader an indication of where to look for Neotridactylus apicalis, 
the question to ask would seem to be the following: How does the reader identify the 
species once it has been found? Species in the family Tridactylidae (/.«?., the Pygmy 
Mole-crickets), in addition to being characteristically small in size, are the only 
orthopteroid insects represented in the district that have front legs adapted for 
digging. Thus, if a tiny locust is found here having enlarged, mole-like front legs, 
the problem is one of identifying the species of tridactylid to which it belongs. 
Vickery and Kevan (1985) recorded two Ontario species in the family Tridactylidae: 
Neotridactylus apicalis and Ellipes minutus (Minute Pygmy Locust/Pygmy Mole- 
cricket). 2 According to Steven Paiero at the University of Guelph, who is currently 
evaluating the conservation status of Ontario Orthoptera, Ellipes minutus probably 
does not extend as far north as Neotridactylus apicalis, but may have been 
2 
~ Dr. Stephen Marshall and Steven Paiero, are currently studying the possible 
occurrence of a third species in southwestern Ontario 
107 
