Read Great Hike; or, The Pride of the Khaki Troop Page 21

  ORTHOPTERA.

  These are the straight-winged insects. They have four wings, the frontpair being usually leathery and smaller than the hind pair.

  Here belong the Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets. Cockroaches,Walking-sticks, Leaf insects, Praying Mantis also belong to this order.

  THE COCKROACH.

  Most of the Cockroaches are nocturnal. It is said that their food isdead animal matter. The kinds of Cockroaches found in the house are theAmerican Cockroach, Croton-bug and the Black Beetle. Apparently they eatanything, animal or vegetable, and are great pests in ill-kept houses,especially where moisture is plentiful. The name "Croton-bug" is appliedto the smaller sort, it having made its appearance about the time whenCroton water was first used in New York City. They show a strongdistaste to light and are fond of warmth. The eggs are laid in capsules.

  THE LOCUST.

  This family are insects most destructive to crops. The antennas areshort, the hind legs large and strong, giving them their jumping power.The most injurious of these is the migratory locust. During the years1874 to 1876 this insect, it is said, did more than $200,000,000 damageto crops in four States of the Union. Every country boy knows thecrackling sound made by these grasshoppers in their flight. Their "song"is made by the scraping of the legs against their wings. Locusts swarmand are not particular as to the kind of vegetable matter which theyeat; anything green which they chance upon is devoured. The red-leggedgrasshopper is the one most common in the Eastern States in late summer.

  The true or green grasshoppers have long horns, are much softer in bodyand "sing" more than their cousins of the locust family. The "Katydids"belong here.

  CRICKETS.

  PRAYING MANTIS.]

  Crickets are closely related to the green grasshoppers. They have longantennae. The Mole Cricket burrows in the earth, as its name implies,digging with its powerful forelegs. The black Field Cricket lives insmall burrows in fields and pastures. The Crickets are musical andtogether with their cousins of this family swell the insect chorus ofour summer nights.

  A peculiar insect belonging to this family is popularly known as theWalking-stick; in motion it does not look unlike a twig moving about.Its body is long and slender. In the tropics this family has many formswhich so closely resemble the leaves, and even flowers of plants andtrees, as to fool not only the casual but the close observer.

  Another peculiar insect is the Praying Mantis; this name has been giventhem because of the position which they take, the legs being held asthough in prayer. They are found in the Southern States and are regardedwith superstitious awe by the ignorant.