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Psyche 7:147-154, 1894.

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Psyche, Vol. 7, 1894.
Plate 6.
MORSE.- NOTES ACRID. N. E., I.- TETTIGINAE.



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NOTES ON THE ACRIDIDAE OF NEW ENGLAND.-I. BY ALBERT Pa MORSE, WELLESLEY, MASS.
The purpose of these notes on litera-
ture, morphology, habits, etc., is to add to the available knowledge of the
species of locusts occurring in New
England and enable others to more
readily become acquainted with them.
To this end the notes are accompanied
by sketches illustrating many of the
more important diagnostic characters,
and keys for determining the species,
which, it is hoped, will enable, so far as it is possible, even the novice to identify any specimen in hand.
The order of sequence of the various
groups, if circumstances permit, will be that adopted by Brunner in his recent
Revision.
Of this subfamily I have over nine
hundred New England specimens in
my collection, forming the basis of this paper. To Mr. S. H. Scudder I am
indebted for opportunity to examine
other North American and several
European species, and the types of the
New England forms described by him.
In the bibliography references are
given to the original descriptions and
the more important and accessible
literature only, with a view to clearly
indicating the species to which refer-
ence is made. Unless otherwise
stated I have accepted Scudder's deter-
minations of the species described by
Harris, Say, and Burmeister, as indi-
cated in his "Materials." For the sake
of brevity a list of works is given and
reference is made in most cases to
author and page only.
Under the head of measurements the
extremes alone are given. 'bTotal
length" refers to the length of the insect from the front of the vertex or head to
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 6.
The drawings are numbered in accordance with the species.
Fig. I.
Nomotettix cristatus, side view of prono- turn.
Fig. ia. Nomotetfix cristatus, var. cwinatzts, side view of pronotum.
Fig. 1b. Nomotettix cristatus, section.
' 1C.
g c ' profile.
1d. ' head from above.
Fig, 2. Tettix ornafus and triangularis, pronotum and wings from above,-combination figure to show outlines of both forms.
Fig. 20.
Tettix omatus, side view to show sinuses of lateral lobes.
Fig. 28.
Tettix omatus, head from above.
" 2c. " ' profile.
3. I' granuhtus, head from above.
' 3a. " ' profile.
4.
Parafettix mullatus, head from above.
' 4a.
, profile.
'I 5. Tettigidea lateralis, head from above.



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148. PSTCHl?. [October 1894.
the tip of the pronotum or wings, as the case may be.
ccPronotum > hind femora" means
that the pronotum passes the end of
the hind femora ; if a quantity is pre-
ceded by a - sign, the pronotuin fails
to pass by that amount. All state-
ments of a comparative character
should be understood as having refer-
ence to New England species only.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Unless otherwise stated citations refer to the following works :-
BOLIVAR, IGN.-Essai sur les Acridiens de la tribu des Tettigidae,-in Ann. Soc. ent.
Belgique, xxxi, 1887 (pp. 175-313).
(This can be obtained in separate form.) FERNALD, C. H.-The Orthoptera of New
England, pp. 61 ; same, in 25th Report
Mass. agric. college (pp. 85-I~s), Jan.
1888; same, in Report Sec. Board agric.
Mass., 1887 (pp. 421-481). The pagina-
tion of the separate is used.
HARRIS, T. W.-A treatise on some of the
insects injurious to vegetation, 3rd ed ., 1862 (pp. 165-191). First ed. pub. 1841. MORSE, A. P.-Wing-length in some New
England Acrididae,-in Psyche, 1894,
PP- 13, 14' 53-55-
A preliminary list of the Aci-ididae of
New England,-in Psyche, 1894, pp.
102-108.
(Separates of these are obtainable.)
SCUDDER, S. H.-Materials for a monograph of the North American Orthoptera,
including a Catalogue of the known New
England species,-in Boston journ. nat.
hist., vol. vii, no. iii, 1862 (pp. 409-480). THOMAS. CYRUS.-Synopsis of the Acrididae of North America. Rep't U. S. geol.
surv. ten-. (Hayden) vol. v., pt. I, 1873,- pp. x, 262.
This group of locusts as found in
New England comprises eight forms
more or less distinct structurally and
presenting great diversity in color and
markings,-the latter are, however, of
so comparatively little systematic value that I have not considered them in this
paper, but hope to do so at some future
time. The characters of most value in
distinguishing the forms are the number
of joints in the antennae, the form of
the vertex and profile of the head, and
of the pronotum, and the extent of the
pronotum and wings.
The most recent work of a mono-
graphic character on this group is
Bolivar's "Essay," which was based on
the very large amount of material con-
tained in several of the most important
European collections. This excellent
work is invaluable to the student and
is likely to remain for some time the
standard reference.
Bolivar divides the entire subfamily
into seven sections, according to form
of antennae, position of median ocellus, form of anterior femora, forking of
frontal costa, form and direction of
posterior angles of lateral lobes of pro- notum, number of antenna1 joints, and
relative length of proximal joints of
posterior tarsi. New England affords
representatives of but two of these-
Tettigiae and Batrachideae.
To the Batrachideae belongs the
genus Tettigidea with two forms- T.
lateralis and T. 'poZymor$ha, while
the remaining genera fall into the
Tettigiae. These two sections may be




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October 1894.1
PSYCHE.
distinguished as follows : in the Tetti- of 16-22 joints, in our forms of 21-22. giae the anterior femora are carinate
The number of joints frequently varies
above, and the antennae are composed
in the same species, sometimes being
of I 2- 14 joints, while in the Batrachi- I 3 in one specimen and 14 in another, or deae the anterior femora are sulcate the same individual may have 13 in one above and the antennae are composed antenna and 14 in the other. I. Pronotum normal, not covering abdomen ; pulvilli present between the tarsal claws.
Common locusts or ' bgrasshoppers."
11. Pronotum covering all or nearly all of the abdomen ; pulvilli wanting between the tarsal claws. "Grouse-locusts" or TETTIGINAE. 2. Antennae 12-14 jointed.
3. Median carina high, crest-like, arched longitudinally. Superior lateral
sinus of pronotum shallow, about one-half as deep as the inferior. (Gen. I, Nomotettix.)
4. Wings abortive, not equalling pronotum. Sp. I, N. cristatus. 41. Wings perfect, equalling or passing pronotum. Sp. I, var. carinatus.
3'. Median carina low, dorsum rather flat. Superior lateral sinus nearly as deep as the inferior.
5. Vertex of head projecting beyond eyes. (Gen. 2, Tettix.)
6. Vertex rounded on front margin, and the median carina distinctly projecting. Profile rather deeply excavate opposite eyes. Sp. 2, 71. ornatus.
7. Wings large.
Pronotum subulate behind.
Sp. 2, type form, omzatz~s.
71. Wings small, passing the hind thighs but little. Pronotum not sub-
ulate ; sides of process nearly straight. Sp. 2, form triangularis.
61. Vertex angulate on front margin. Profile shallowly excavate opposite eyes.
Sp. 3, T. granuldns.
5l. Vertex of head not projecting beyond eyes. (Gen. 3, Paratettix) Sp. 4. P. ciicullat-iis.
2l. Antennae 2 1-22 jointed.
(Gen. 4, Tettigidea.)
8. Wings perfect, when closed passing the hind thighs. Sp 5, T. ZateraIis.
81. Wings abortive, not passing the hind thighs. Sp. 6, T. $oZymoqjha.
known as Batrachidea CT-istata Hiirr.
Bolivar has shown that this is more
The first species of this section to
nearly allied to the Tettigiae than to
claim attention is that most widely the genus Batrachidea or the section



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150 PSYCHE. [October 1894.
containing it. I cannot agree with
him, however, in considering it to be-
long to the same genus as Tettix suh-
latus, g~anulatus, etc., and propose
for it a new generic appellation.
I. NOMOTETTIX gen. nov. (v0p.h pas-
ture ; and Tå£'TT@
Lateral lobes of the pronotum with
the postero-dorsal sinus shallow, about
one-half the depth of the antero-ventral sinus. Pronotum advanced upon the
head, rather sharply tectiform. Occiput
of head with a pair of nipple-like or
mammillate protuberances between the
posterior portion of the eyes and the
median line. Type, Tetrix cristata
Harris.
a
The type also differs from the group
of species containing Tettix g-yanu-
latus in having stouter hind femora
and Eut 12, sometimes 13, joints in the
antennae, instead of 14, frequently 13.
It differs markedly in the character of
its haunts, also, preferring dry soil to moist, upland pastures to meadows,
whence the generic name.
I. Nomotettix cristatus Harr. Figs. I, la, ib, IC, id.
Tetrix cristata Hal-r. Mss.
~atwtidet, cristata } Scuddery 478.
. Scudd. Thomas, 190.
L & ' Harr. Fernald, 48.
Tettix cristatiis Scudd. Bolivar, 257,260. Batrachidea cristata Harr. Morse, 54, 107. Form carinatus.
Batrachidea carinata Scudder, 479.
c L " Scudd. Thomas, 190.
L c L L " Fernald, 49.
c G c c " = Tettix crt's-
tatits Scudd. Bolivar, 260.
Batmchidea carinata Scudder = B. cris-
tata Harr. Morse, 54.
fityachjdea crist~ta carinata Scudd,
Morse, 107.
The two forms here treated as belong-
ing to one species were considered and
perhaps are still by some as distinct
species.
Bolivar in his "Essay" united
the two under T. cristatus Scudd. .
[more properly Harris], but judging
from his description of B. carinata he
had never seen it and failed to com-
prehend the characters distinguishing
it, mistaking for it certain specimens
of the cristatus form. He states that
the pronotuin is longer than the abdo-
men, extending a little beyond the hind
femora, its posterior point being
11 in flected and directed downward"
(the italics are mine), and the median
carina less strongly arcuate. This fits
such specimens exactly, but does not
apply to carinatus. Carinatus is
quite rare, but one or two occurring
to the hundred of cristatus ; specimens
of the other form are common although
less plentiful than those in which the
pronotum fails to reach the tip of hind
femora. A glance at figs. I and ia
will at once enable the relation of
cristatus and carinatus to be under-
stood, carinatus having the wings
perfectly developed and the pronotum
elongated and slightly u$turned at the




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October 1894.1
end to receive them; otherwise it is
identical with cristatus.
I have already indicated (Psyche,
1894, 53, 54) my opinion of the rela-
tion of these two forms: that cayinatus
is but a reversion to the earlier long-
winged type of female, such cases being
not uncommon. This conclusion was
reached independently, from examina-
tion of my material, before becoming
acquainted with Bolivar's work.
Blatchley states (Can. ent. 1892,
33) that he regards carinatus and
cristatus as distinct as the two forms
of Tettigidea. Typically they are, but
specimens intermediate in structure are
met with in both cases, and in addition
the great proportional rarity of the
long-winged form is to be considered in
this case. The following measurements
showing the relations of pronotum,
bind femora and wings will be of
interest in this connection. Those of
carinatus are based on but seven speci-
nens, those of cristatus on a very large number.
Cristatus form.
Total length. Pron. Pron.> Hind fern.
Wing <Pro%,
cf 7.7- 9.
7-1-84 -1. - + -5
.s-1.3
$ 8.6-10.2 8. -9.5
-4- +I. 4-2.
Carinatus form.
Total length. Pi-on. Pro%> Hmd fern. Wing > Pron. One female carinatus has the pro-
notum extending but I mm. beyond the
hind femora and the wings but -3 mm.
beyond the pronotum, thus being inter-
mediate in structure, although ap-
proaching carinatus more closely.
Looked at from above it can scarcely
be distinguished from cristatus, but a
glance at the side reveals the fully
developed wings. The markings are
identical in character, both forms being either plain or spotted. No difference
is perceptible in the proportions of the hind femora as would be likely in the
case of a winged and wingless species,
nor in the vertex or the occiput which
vary characteristically in this group.
~escrz$tion.-~ntennae 12 to 13 jointed,
usually 12 ; occiput bearing a pair of nipple- like protuberances, very small but not to be confused with the granulations of the surface, one on each side opposite the hinder part of the eyes. These are distinct in even young specimens. Vertex projecting, rounded ; its median carina high, projecting considerably in advance of the margin; frontal costa
sharply excised opposite the eyes. Pro-
notum with anterior margin advanced upon the head, the sides excavate. Median carina cristate, arched longitudinally, higher oppo- site shoulders, gradually becoming lower toward the rear; its outline sometimes a little flattened just behind the shoulders. Dorsal sinus of lateral lobe about 4 as deep as the ventral sinus, its anterior margin only 4 as long as the dorsal margin of the ventral sinus, its angle more or less obtuse or nearly right, the lobe between the two sinuses
obtusely rounded. Hind thighs stout, the breadth contained 24 times in the length. Elytra longer and narrower than in our
species of Tettix, acuminate at the apex. Habits.-This curious little locust is
the smallest Acridian and the common-
est species of the subfamily occurring
in New England and is widespread in
distribution. It is common locally over




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152 PSYCHE.
[October 1894.
the larger part, at least, and probably
occurs in the whole of the district. I
have taken it at Fryeburg and Norway,
Me., Jackson, N. H., and have received
it from Brattleboro, Vt. (Mrs. J. B.
Powers). In Mass. I have taken it at
Beverly, Winchendon, Wellesley and
several towns in its vicinity ; in Con-
necticut at T1101npson ; and off shore
on Martha's Vineyiird, and Block
Island, R. I. It is most plentiful in
April, May and October, but I have
taken it in every month in the year ex-
cept November, in which also it can
doubtless be found. I have taken young
specimens in Mass. in Octobei-,-corn-
mon, of small or medium size, and in
June about half-grown ; in northern
Vermont in the middle of July-very
small and one in the last stage.
The ca?*inatus form is very rare,
I
have captured but nine specimens, at
Beverly, April 24, and at Wellesley,
Mass., April 10, 13, Oct. 6. These
were in company with the cristatzis
form, five being secured in one after-
noon in a locality where the latter was
particularly abundant, and two in
another locality under similar con-
ditions.
Outside New England Blatchley
reports the species as rare in Indiana ; I have received it from western Penn'a ; Bolivar reports it from Georgia, and I
have recently seen a specimen from
Florida.
It is found everywhere on light soils,
but especially in dry pastures and other wild land sparsely covered with a
scanty growth of curling tufts of Dan-
thonia grass, scraps of Cladonia lichens and the leathery leaves of Antennaria.
It is perhaps somewhat more plentiful
in the damper portions of such localities, but differs much from the other species
of the subfamily in this particular, the others preferring soils perpetually moist or even the shores of lakes or streams.
This difference in habits as well as
structure lends weight to the argument
for generic distinction, and the name
proposed alludes to this preference.
Search in such situiitions in early
spring and late fall is almost certain to result successfully. I have generally
found it easiest to secure by sweeping its close to the ground as possible, drag-
ging the net, as it were, rapidly along
on the ground. Where abundant it is
found advantageous to abandon the net
and crouch or even to go over the
ground on the hands and knees. In
localities where it is plentiful it is prac- ticable to capture 50-200 specimens in
an afternoon within the area of a few
square rods.
a. TETTIX Charp.
Tettix Charpentier I 841. Germar,
Zeitschr. 111. 315, equivalent to Tetrix Latreille, Hist. Nat. d. Crust. Ins , XII, 161-164.
2. Tettix ornatus Say. Figs. 2, 2a, 2b; 2c. Acrydium ornatum Say, 1824. Arner.
entom., i, pi. v.
Acridi76m ornatum Say, 1859. Ent. N. A,, ed. Lec., i, 10.
Tettix ornata Say. Scudder, 474.
i 1 Scudd. Thomas, 183.
ornatus Say. Fernald, 46.
1i Scudd. Bolivar, 258, 264.
Say. Morse, 54, 106.
Not Tetrix arenosa Burm. Scudder, 474.