An Elementary Study of Insects | Page 7

WIDE AS A SAIL. They lived in such houses of grandeur, Their days
were successions of joys, And the very last fad these butterflies had
WAS MAKING COLLECTIONS OF BOYS.
"There were boys of all sizes and ages PINNED UP ON THEIR WALLS.
When I said 'Twas a terrible sight to see boys in that plight, I was
answered: 'OH, WELL THEY ARE DEAD. WE CATCH THEM ALIVE,
BUT WE KILL THEM, WITH ETHER--A VERY NICE WAY: Just look
at this fellow--his hair is so yellow, And his eyes such a beautiful gray.

"'Then there is a droll little darky, As black as the clay at our feet; He
sets off that blond that is pinned just beyond In a way most artistic and
neat. And now let me show you the latest,-- A specimen really select, A
boy with a head that is carroty-red And a face that is funnily specked.
"'We cannot decide where to place him; Those spots bar him out of
each class; We think him a treasure to study at leisure And analyze
under a glass.' I seemed to grow cold as I listened To the words that
these butterflies spoke; With fear overcome, I was speechless and dumb,
And then with a start,--I awoke!"
--ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.
CHAPTER III
THE GRASSHOPPER
The grasshopper or locust is one of the most ancient plagues of
cultivated crops. From the earliest time they have destroyed crops.
During Moses' sojourn in Egypt they were so destructive as to cause
severe famine and various other references to their destructive work are
to be found in the early writings. Since those early days, just think of
the crops that have disappeared between the greedy jaws of
grasshoppers!
In our own country it has not been many years since the sun was
darkened for days by clouds of grasshoppers as they settled down from
the Rocky Mountains upon the growing crops in the neighboring states.
One day a field might have a promising crop and by the next day it
might be left as bare as a dry stubble field in August. Those days of
great destruction in America have largely passed but each year the
active jaws of "hoppers" devour a handsome fortune.
[Illustration: Common differential locust or grasshopper; a, egg nests
underground; b, young nymph; c, d, older nymphs; e, adult grasshopper;
f, nymph feeding on grass. This shows development with incomplete
metamorphosis.]

In the same order with the grasshoppers come the crickets, katydids,
rear-horses, devil's darning-needles or walking-sticks, and cockroaches.
The grasshoppers are most troublesome, however. They deposit eggs in
the ground and in other protected places. In the spring these hatch into
young "hoppers" scarcely larger than a pin head at first. Throughout the
early summer these small fellows feed and increase in size. They burst
their old skins and crawl out of them a number of times as they grow
larger. Toward fall they become full grown with four strong wings and
very powerful hind legs for jumping. In this condition most of the
common grasshoppers will be found in the fall when the rural schools
open.
FIELD STUDIES
The small so-called red-legged grasshopper is always most abundant in
the fall and for this reason we have selected it for our studies. It is
about an inch long, olive-brown in color with the ends of the hind legs
bright red. It is found everywhere in pastures, meadows and along
country roads. Approach one of them in the field and see what happens.
How does it get away? When disturbed, how far does it go? Does it
hide in the grass when you try to catch it? Observe one that has not
been disturbed. Where do you find it; on the ground or on plants? How
does it move about when not scared? Watch carefully and see what
plants it feeds on. How does it go about it? What do you find feeding
on grasshoppers? How does a turkey catch them? Have you ever seen a
dull colored fly, which inhabits dry paths and which flies with a
humming sound like a bee, feeding on grasshoppers? These are called
"robber-flies" or "spider-hawks" and they destroy thousands of
grasshoppers.
BREEDING CAGE OBSERVATIONS
After you have learned all you can about the habits of the grasshopper
in the field, catch a few of them and take them home and put them in a
glass fruit jar. Collect green leaves for them and watch them feed.
Watch their method of feeding closely and see how it differs from that
of a horse or a cow. How do they move about in the jar? Which legs are
used in walking? What do they do with the jumping legs while walking?

Do they use their wings at all while in the jar? Watch them wash