"Suborder APHANIPTERA ([Greek: aphanes], inconspicuous; [Greek: pteron], wing) or Fleas, comprising the single family Pulicidae, now placed with the Diptera. Everybody is supposed to be familiar with the appearance of the Flea--its bloodthirsty propensities and amazing muscular power; and while everyone may not have the leisure and means to experience the exhilarating influence of the chase after larger animals, there is no one--be he never so humble--who may not indulge in the hunt after this smaller game! In place of wings the flea has four small, scaly plates. The minute eggs--about a dozen to each female--are laid in obscure places, such as the cracks of a floor, the hair of rugs, etc., and the larva is worm-like and feeds upon whatever animal matter--as grease and blood--or decaying vegetable matter it can find. "Order ORTHOPTERA ([Greek: orthos], straight; [Greek: pteron], wing), or Straight-winged Insects. Characterized by having the front wings (called _tegmina_) straight and usually narrow, pergameneous or parchment-like, thickly veined, and overlapping at tips when closed; the hind wings large and folding longitudinally like a fan. Transformations incomplete. [Illustration: FIG. 28.--A Locust (_Acridium americanum_).] [Illustration: FIG. 29.--A Tree-cricket (_Orocharis saltator_). _a_, female; _b_, male.] [Illustration: FIG. 30.--The Croton Bug or German Cockroach (_Phyllodromia germanica_). _a_, first stage; _b_, second stage; _c_, third stage; _d_, fourth stage; _e_, adult; _f_, adult female with egg-case; _g_, egg-case--enlarged; _h_, adult with wings spread--all natural size except _g_.] "The insects of this order have a lengthened body and very robust jaws, with a correspondingly large head. The legs are strong, and fashioned either for grasping, running, climbing, jumping, or burrowing. As in the other orders, where the transformations are incomplete, the young differ little from the parent, except in the want of wings; and in many instances even this difference does not exist, as there are numerous species which never acquire wings. There are no aquatic Orthoptera. Some are omnivorous, others carnivorous, but most of them herbivorous. They form four distinct sections: 1st, CURSORIA, Cockroaches; 2d, RAPTATORIA, Mantes; 3d, AMBULATORIA, Walking-sticks; 4th, SALTATORIA, Crickets, Grasshoppers, and Locusts. [Illustration: FIG. 31.--Hind wing of Earwig. (From Comstock.)] [Illustration: FIG. 32.--An Earwig. (From Packard.)]