Family Locustidæ.
Œdipoda cinerascens (Plate [XVII]., fig. 3).
This large and conspicuous insect occurs abundantly in all open situations near Nelson, but is very rare in the Wellington district, becoming, however, again common further north.
When disturbed it leaps into the air, spreads its wings, and flies away with great rapidity for thirty or forty yards, when it alights, and allows its pursuer to get within a few yards of his prize before again making off. This habit renders the capture of a good series of this insect a most arduous matter. The sexes may be readily distinguished by their size, the female being nearly twice as large as her mate.
This species is very variable in colour, some individuals being dark green whilst others are of a uniform drab.
The food of this insect consists of various domestic grasses, but I do not think it is at present sufficiently abundant to exercise any harmful influence on agriculture. By some entomologists, however, it is regarded as only a variety of the renowned migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), and as such its advent in large numbers might be viewed with serious apprehension.
It is also strange that although I have often seen large numbers of this species in the perfect state I have never observed the larva. I can only conjecture that the insect breeds in very secluded localities and then migrates in search of fresh food supplies.
Group Euplexoptera.
Family Forficulidæ.
Forficesila littorea (Plate [XVII]., fig. 7).