The short antennae of grasshoppers appear to be organs of scent.
The long hair-fine ones of katydids and crickets may be also, but
repeatedly I have seen these used to explore the way ahead over leaves
and limbs, the insect feeling its path and stepping where a touch
assures it there is safe footing. Katydids, crickets, and
grasshoppers all have antennae, and all of these have ears definitely
located; hence their feelers are not for auricular purposes.
According to my logic those of the moth cannot be either. I am quite
sure that primarily they serve the purpose of a nose, as they
are too short in most cases to be of much use as `feelers,' although
that is undoubtedly their secondary office. If this be true, it
explains the larger organs ofthe male. The female emerges from
winter quarters so weighted with carrying from two to six hundred
eggs, that she usually remains and develops where she is. This
throws the business of finding her location on the male. He is
compelled to take wing and hunt until he discovers her; hence his
need of more acute sense of scent and touch.
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