Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/178

 170 GRASSHOPPER covered with a thin varnish-like film. Others live upon trees and shrubs, like the katydid ; their wings and covers are broader, and they deposit tlu-ireggs on the branches of trees in regular rows, having shaved off the bark with tlu-ir short and curved piercer. The legs are Oblong Leaf-winged Grasshopper (Phylloptera oblongifolia). three pairs, the posterior being much the long- est and capable of performing the jumps whence these insects derive their name ; they nil end in elastic hooks. The flight of the grasshopper is short, unsteady, and noiseless, compared with that of the locust. The Amer- ican katydid (platypJiyllum concavum, Harris) will be described under that title. Other na- tive grasshoppers are : 1. The spotted wingless grasshopper (phalangopsis maculata, Harris), pale yellowish brown, with small light spots on the darker back, smooth and shining, with arched back, from half an inch to about an inch long; it is common, under stones and sticks in the woods, has the short thick body and stout hind thighs of a cricket, and is en- tirely destitute of wings. 2. The oblong leaf- winged grasshopper (phylloptera ollongifolia, De Geer) is of a brilliant green, with very deli- cate wings, the under extending far beyond the upper; the body is only about an inch long, but to the end of the wings it often mea- sures three inches; in its perfect state it is found upon trees in September and October; Narrow-leayed Grasshopper (Phancroptera angustifolia). 1'iriii- flight it makes a whizzing noise. 3 The curved-tailed grasshopper (P. curvicauda, B Geer), of the middle and southern states, is a larger species, with wing covers broadest in the middle. 4. The narrow-leaved grasshopper (phaneroptera angustifolia, Harris) is green with wing covers rounded at the tips and shorter than the wings, a short bent piercer, and in the male a long tapering projection from the under side of the body ; it measures in the body three quarters of an inch, and to the end of the wings about an inch and three quarters; it comes to maturity early in September. 6. The common meadow grasshopper (orchelimum mtlgare, Harris), so numerous near the end of summer at different ages, is of a general green, with a brown stripe on the top of the head and thorax; it measures at maturity about three quarters of an inch to the end of the body, and a quarter of an inch more to the end of the semi-transparent wing covers ; the shrilling or- gans consist of a transparent glassy spot in the overlapping portion of each wing cover, which is larger and stronger than in other grasshop- pers; the hindmost thighs are smooth, there are two spines on the middle of the breast, and the antenna? extend beyond the end of the hind legs. 6. The sword-bearer grasshopper (cono- cepkalus ensiger, Harris) has the head conical, extending to a blunt point between the eyes, and along, straight, sword-shaped piercer; it measures an inch to the end of the body, and Common Meadow Grasshopper (Orchelimum vulgare). an inch more to the end of the wing covers ; it is pale green, with whitish head, and pale brownish green legs and abdomen. The young grasshopper comes from the egg without wings ; passing through several moultings, the body increases and little stump-like wings appear; the wings gradually become longer with each change of skin, the insect hopping about by means of its muscular hind thighs ; after ceas- ing to grow, the wings are perfect organs of flight, and the grasshopper enters upon its short life ; the song by degrees becomes less, the body shrivels, the legs wither, the appetite ceases, and in three or four weeks the whole number are dead. The larvae remain in the earth or wherever the eggs are deposited all winter, and are hatched in the spring ; they are voracious as larva, pupa, and perfect in- sect, and in all these stages are eagerly de- voured by fowls, especially turkeys. The Cjen grasshopper of Europe (L. viridissima, tr.) is two inches long, of a fine green with- out spots. The L. verrucivora (Fabr.) is green, with the wing covers spotted with brown and black ; it bites severely, and the Swedes sub- mit their warts to its mandibles, asserting that after its bite the warts quickly disappear.