Cockroaches Family 2. Blatticke.
Devil's-horses Family 3. Manacles.
Walking-sticks Family 4. Phasmidce.
Grasshoppers Family 5. Acrididce, Family 6. Locusacice, Crickets Family 7. aryllidce.
As will be seen from this list, there is no con fusion between the scientific and common names until we reach grasshoppers, among which our insect belongs. Other names, it is true, are some times applied to insects of the previous families, but with the exception of earwig they corre spond in their application with the family limits as here given. As before stated, the term grass hopper is applied to insects of two families Acrwlid.ce and Locusticke; but notwithstanding this difficulty in using the popular name the insects which compose the family are easily dis tinguished from each other by prominent char acters. Loeusticke includes those species usually found on the grass, bushes, and trees, which have very long thread-like antennte, generally longer than the body of the insect; the tarsi or feet are four jointed; the female is furnished at the tip of the abdomen with an exserted ovipos itor, usually more or less curved and sword shaped; and the upper wings of the male are furnished, at the base, with a peculiar arrange ment of the nerves, with which, by rubbing them together, they produce sharp, shrill notes. To this family belong true grasshoppers, katydids, and similar insects; and there are other species which strongly resemble and are usually called crickets that belong to this family. Aerididce, includes those species which usually reside on the ground, and are distinguished from those of the other families of saltatorial orthoptera by the following characters: The antennte are com paratively short, never exceeding the body in length, and in North American species composed of from twelve to twenty-five joints; the tarsi are apparently three-jointed; the females are fur nished at the tip of the abdomen with four short corneous pieces, two of which curve upward and two doWnward; the male is without the shrilling organ at the base of the wings found in the Locusticia3. This family contains the true locust, such as those of oriental countries and the Rocky Mountain Locust; also such so-called grasshop pers as the common red-legged species of the States and those found bopping on the ground in open waste fields, along roadsides, etc. There fore, in speaking hereafter of these species, we shall use the term locust. As the family con tains a very large number of species varying considerably in form and character, entomolo gists have endeavored to divide it into sections or subfamilies, by bringing together those minor groups having certain characters in common. The various results of these attempts can not be introduced here, as this would not only require too much space, hut also the introduction of matter of purely scientific interest, and of no practical use in this brief review of the classifica tion. These subdivisions vary in number according to the characters selected by the dif ferent authors, some making as many as eleven subfamilies, others only two or three. Yet, as a general rule, the difference is not so much in the grouping as in the value attached to the groups, the sub-families of one author being considered as subordinate divisions by other authors. Without undertaking at this time to decide upon the respective merits of these several arrangements, we have selected for present pur poses that which makes but three subfamilies, as it appears to be the simplest and most easily understood by general readers. In our descrip tions of these subdivisions we shall confine our selves to those represented in the orthopteral fauna of that portion of North America north of Mexico, and so far as possible select such char acters only as are necessary to distinguish these divisions from each other. The first subfamily, Proscopince, contains only exotic species, and may therefore be omitted from further consideration. The second subfamily, Acriclince, is distinguished by having the pronotum in the form of a shield, which covers the prothorax and extends back ward at farthest only a short distance upon the base of the abdomen, never reaching more than half way to the tip, and seldom half this dis tance; the prosternum or front breast is drawn up, that is, it is not in the same plane as the rest of the sternum or breast; it is spined, tubercled, or smooth, but never advanced upon the mouth in the form of a muffler; elytra or upper wings, when present, always as long as the wings; tarsi with pads between the claws. The third sub family, Tettigince, is characterized by having the pronotum, in the form of a shield, extending backward nearly or quite to the tip of the abdo men, and sometimes even beyond it; the pro sternum in the same plane as the rest of the sternum, and advanced upon the mouth in the form of a muffler; elytra when present usually shorter than the wings, and placed at the sides of the body; tarsi without pads between the claws. The two latter families are represented in the United States, but the great body of our locusts belong to the Affiance, the species of Tettigince being comparatively few, quite small, and seldom noticed by unscientific observers. As the Caloptmus spretus and all other migratory locusts belong to Acridina3, we shall limit our further consideration to this subfamily. It con tains several subordinate groups, but the char acters by which these are distinguished from each other are not so apparent and uniform as are those separating the various sub-families. Although at least one species of 0e,clipodini is migratory in the Old World, and .a species in North America (Cammukt pellucida, Scudd ) be longing to the same group was formerly supposed to be the migratory locust of California, yet at present our observations are confined to Acridini, which contains the destructive locust of the West. This limits us to those species found in the United States which have the head more or less subglobular or ovoid, and the front • breast armed with a spine. The latter character is easily recognized by any one, as the spine may be seen by examining the under side of the neck; it usually stands out like a little blunt thorn, very distinct. If this is wanting, the observer may know without further observation that his speci men does not belong to the migratory species of our country. If it has the spine, and the head is not conical or pyramidal, then he must refer to the characters hereafter given of the genera and species. We have now reached the genera, which can not be fully discussed at present, as this would require, if properly done, a revision of the Calopteni and Pezotettigi, and an examina tion of all our native species. We will, therefore, simply mention the more important genera of the group represented in the United States, calling attention to a few of the more prominent charac ters by which Caloptenus is separated from those genera most closely allied to it. We will also make use of localities, habits, etc., wherever they will assist the general reader in any way in de termining whether or not a given specimen be longs to Caloptenus. The following genera of Acriclii which are mentioned by North American authors may be omitted from further considera tion for the reasons given below : Tropidacris, Diciyophorus, Rhomalea, Ommatolampis, Platy phyma, Dactyktum, and Chromacus. The first contains only gigantic species, and if represented at all in the United States, it is only by a single species occasionally found along the southwest ern border of Texas. Rhomalea may be consid ered as a synonym of Dietwaphorus, which is represented by hut two subtropical species, which are large, with brightly colored under-wings, chiefly red; while those of our Calopteni are trans parent. Ommatolampis has been superseded by Mr.. Scudder's genus Hesperotettia. Platyphyma and Chromacris have probably been introduced by mistake. Da,ctylotum has been introduced into our nomenclature for the reception of a very short-winged and brightly-colored species—Pew teitim pieta Thos. This leaves only the following genera as necessary to be considered : Acridium, Caloptenus, liesperotettix, and Pezotettia. As Hes perotettix contains, so far as we are aware, but three species, easily distinguished from Caloptenus spretus by the following characters and facts it may be also excluded: One is short-winged, green, and found only in the Eastern Middle States; another somewhat common in the West is green, with reddish bands around the femora; the other has so far been found only in Arizona; it is yel low, thickly dotted over with black, and the an tennae annulated with alternate colors. There is a difference of opinion in reference to the char acters of the genera Caloptenus and Pesotettix; Professor Stal, of Sweden, maintaining that if properly limited Caloptenus does not embrace any of our species. He places C. femur-rubrum, and consequently the closely allied species, in tia. Without attempting to discuss the questioh so far as it relates to the proper characters, we have concluded, for reasons which will be men tioned further on, to retain the name Caloptenus and to use the genus in the sense understood by American and most European authors. Although the chief distinction between this genus and Pezotettia, as adopted in this country, the differ ence in the length of the wings, can not be con sidered satisfactory, yet, as it will answer present purposes, we will avail ourselves of it in order to eliminate the group from consideration. Acri
dium, so far as represented in the United States, may be characterized as follows, : Vertex but slightly inclined, angularly expanded in front of the eyes; antennal grooves profound and extend ing downward to the clypeus; eyes elongate elliptical. Pronotum somewhat compressed on the sides, depth usually considerably more than the width, moderately but distinctly expanding behind the last sulcus (very slightly in rubigin osum); lateral carinte obsolete on the anterior lobes, the sides rounding up somewhat as the sides of an arch to the median carina; the dorsum of the posterior lobe more flattened, with the lateral carinte subdistinct; the lower margin of the lateral lobes straight, the posterior lateral angle slightly obtuse, varying from about 100° to 110° ; posterior margin obtuse-angled and rounded at the tip. Elytra and wings, with one excep tion, considerably longer than the abdomen, and in the exception pass it slightly. Abdomen elon gate, rather slender; that of the male not en larged at the tip; the last segment of the male subconical and distinctly notched at the tip, usu ally with a square notch ; cerci of the male fiat, usually broad, oblong, and straight. Prosternal spine, robust, subcylindrical, blunt, and approxi mating the margin mesosternum. The spines of the posterior tibm always have at least the basal portion pale, either yellowish or white, even when the tibite are black. Posterior femora long, reaching to the tip of the abdomen, mod erately robust, the outer face flat. The species, with one exception, are large, the females exceeding two inches in length, the exception, rubiginosum, is rare in the West, and so far has not been found west of the Mississippi. We have omitted A. frontalis (Thos.), as it does not properly belong to this genus, having been placed here by the author provisionally. As it is green, there is no danger of its being con founded with C. spretus. To this genus belongs A. Amerieanum, a large reddish-brown species, marked on the outer wings with cellular quad rate fuscous spots, which often does considera ble injury to crops in the sections south of the latitude of " St. Louis, which is nearly its northern limit. In 1875 and 1876, and even in 1877, it was seen migrating in considerable numbers, causing much alarm, as those who saw them supposed they were veritable Rocky Mountain locusts.- Such flights were observed in southeast Indiana, southwest Ohio, South ern Illinois, and Georgia. These flights are very limited in extent, reaching at farthest but a mile or two. Their large size, coloring, generic char acters, and southern habitats will readily dis tinguish them from the C. spretus. We may remark here that one of the most destructive migatory species of southwestern Asia and northern Africa (Acridium peregrinum) is not only congeneric with this species, but so closely resembles it that ordinary observation would scarcely detect the differences between the two. As before stated, the by which the genus Pezotettix is distinguished are not satis factory, and undoubtedly require revision, but in this country the abbreviation or want of wings has generally been adopted as a leading character, which, whether well chosen or not, is sufficient to distinguish its species from C spre tus, which answers our present purpose. This limits us to the genus Caloptenus, and the species belonging to it which are found north of Mexico. The character of Caoptenus and Pezotettix, as given by H. Fischer, (Orthoptera Europea, 1853) were evidently intended to embrace only European species, and although we infer from his remarks that he would include our species of Calopteni in the former genus, yet the char acters render it very doubtful where they would fall. Therefore, while we admit that the group stood sadly in need of revision at the time Stal entered upon the work, yet we do not think the facts warrant him in dropping the generic name Caloptenus, or in removing femur-rubrum there from, hence we can not follow him in this change. This is, perhaps, not a proper place to discuss a question of this kind, but we have con sidered it necessary to say this much in expla nation of our reasons for differing with so dis tinguished an entomologist, in his special field, as Dr. Stal. Under the circumstances it is per haps best that we should define the genus as we understand it, or at least give the characters which the North American species have in com mon, which we include in Caloptenus. In this conn3ction the editor would say, that for the reasons given above, and also as a means of perfect identification not only by the scientific but the general observer as well, we append the full description, which is as follows: Calaptenus, general character, head snbglohnlar, front vertical, or nearly so. Eyes ovoid, sometimes almost auborbicular, but usually the length is to the breadth as three to two, and the front aide is more or less straight ened; usually the upper canthus is more or less angular, hut sometimes it is rounded so as to obliterate the angle; generally rounder and mire prominent in the male than in the female; separated above by • little leas than their width. Vertex narrow between the eyes, the width at this point being a little less than the width 01 the eye; usually though not always suleate. the sulcus or groove shallow; expanding slightly, abruptly, and angularly immediately in front of the eyes; deflexed (15° to 40°1, and generally r unded io front. Frontal costa usually quite prominent, about as broad as the ver tex between the eyes; sides parallel; flat, or shallowly sulcate, reaching, to or nearly to the clypeus. Prouotum anbquadrate, that is to say, a cross section (in the middle) will present a quadrate figure or parallelogram with the upper corners slightly rounded; the sides are nearly per pendicular; the diak or dorsal surface is very nearly flat, with a little thread-like, median carina, usually distinct on the posterior lobe, hut sometimes obliterated on the middle and anterior lobes; the lateral carime are obtuse, but distin. tly marked as the angle where the disk and sides meet; on the posterior lobe they sometimes appear as tree carinm, though not prominent or sharp; the lower margin of the sides is nesrly straight, sometimes project ing a little in the middle, where the triangular piece con nects; the posterior lateral margin varlets somewhat; in some species it forms a distinct entering angle at the shoulder or lateral carina, in others it continues to the tip in an almost straight line; the three transverse incisions are distinct and situated close together, the posterior one being a little behind the middle and always cutting the middle earina; all three sever the lateral curium, but the anterinr one ends at the upper margin of the aides with a slight and abort curve forward; the posterior and middle ones extend down the sides wetl toward the lower margin, and most generally about midway down the posterior sends out at right angles a hi such sulcus which often crosses the intermediate space to the middle one; there is also a fourth sulcus extending down tt e sides close to the anterior margin; the posterior stilcns and usually the middle one make a short cif ye, forward immediately at the median carina; the posterior margin is alit use-angled, rounded at the tip; the posterior lobe is usually finely punctured, while the middle and anterior lobes have a velvety or reify appearance. The elytra sad • ings extend to or beyond the tip ol the abdomen ; the former are nar row (except in C. bindiatus); the latter transparent in all our species; sometimes a very light greenish-yellow or a bluish tinge is observed, the nerves usually more or less dark. The abdomen is usually sub( ylindrical, presenting no distinct keel above: that of the male e' lnrged at the tin and curved upward; the cerci are usually flat, rounded at the tip, and curved tip but some are straight and others tapering. The last abdominal segment, which curves upward like the 1 row of a boat, is sometimes truncate above, sometimes with a slight sugular notch. Posterior femora robust, much enlarged near ti e hese, the external face more or lees convex, in the female never longer and generally shorter than the abdomen; in the mole the reverse is the rule. Pads between the claws large, reach ing a maximum size in some of the species. Most of our species have the upper portion of the inner fare of the posterior thighs marked with three oblique dark bands (the one at the base often indistinct). There is gener ally a dark stripe on the side running back from the eye to the last transverse anions of the pronotum, it is often interrupted, broken, or partially obliterated, but is eel dom wholly wanting in those species any way closely allied to C. spretus or C. Pmur-mbrilm. The antenna: are filiform and slender, reaching their maximum length in the male of C. differentialis, where they sometimes attain the middle of the body. The prosternal spine is usually stout and conical, quadrangular at the base, and generally slightly transverse; in one or two species it approximatea the mesosternum, but this is not usual. Our species vary in length from six-tenths to two and a ball inches.