34 HOW TO TEACH BEETLES, BUGS, AND LOCUSTS. 
2. The thorax is broad and hard, having a prom¬ 
inent shield on the back. The wings are beautiful 
membranous, having strong veins. 
3. The abdomen is short and very broad. The 
whole appearance of this insect indicates strength. 
4. Natural history: The eggs are laid on young 
shoots in incisions made by the peculiar scythe¬ 
shaped ovipositor. These eggs hatch into small 
white maggots which feed on the sapwood of the 
plant. Then they eat their way out and creep down 
the trunk to burrow in the ground. Here they re¬ 
main for a long time. Some species require a year 
or two, others thirteen, fifteen, or even seventeen 
years to mature. The pupa then digs its way out 
of the ground by means of its very powerful claws, 
and creeps up the trunk of the nearest tree. Indeed 
they may be seen creeping up the stalks of grasses, 
weeds, and even up fence posts. 
When firmly fastened to some thing they remain 
but a short time before the back splits open and 
out of the old pupa shell there comes forth a perfect 
imago. The wings are wet and all crumpled up, 
but they gradually spread and dry, and then the 
insect spreads its wings and flies away. Their life 
is short after this. Their “song” is heard, if the 
clatter they make can be called a song. Then they 
lay their eggs and die. 
The organ with which the sound is made, is a 
very complicated one, quite as complicated and very 
much more delicate than the human larynx. The 
females are silent. The vocal organs are found only 
