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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Bulletin No. 27.

REPORTS

ON THE

DAMAGE BY DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS

DURING

THE SEASON OF 1891

MADE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF Tift; .tefO^ftOfliST.

PUBLISHED BY A.UTHORrfcr.OS'

THE SECSjE^RxY: OF AGRICULTURE.

JAN 8..*»'

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1892.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

division of entomology.

Bulletin No. 27.

REPORTS

ON THE

DAMAGE BY DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS

DURING

THE SEASON OF 1891,

MADE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST.

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

WASHINGTON":

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
189l\

3

CONTENTS.

Page.

Letter of Transmittal 5

Introduction 7

Keport on Destructive Locusts Lawrence Brunei- . . 9

The Locust Pest in Colorado 10

The Locust Pest in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. Minnesota, and

Manitoba '. 11

Prof. Waldron's Report 13

Introduction (by H. E. Stoclcbridge) 15

The Rocky Mountain Locusts (by C. B. TValdron ) 16

Migratory Locusts in Minnesota in 1891 (by Otto Lugger) 18

The Locust Pest in Idaho— Summer of 1891 24

The Destructive Western Crickets 29

Locust Injuries in other Regions during the Summer of 1891 32

Report on Locust Invasion of California in 1891 D. W. Coquillett. . 34

Breeding Grounds of the Devastating Locust 40

( ;tiise of the Locust Ravages 44

Natural Enemies 46

Remedies 51

Report of a Trip to Kansas to investigate reported Damage from Grasshop-
pers Herbert Osborn . . 58

The Territory affected 61

The Crops affected 61

The Amount of Injury 61

The Species doing the Damage 62

Measures recommended . 63

Other Species observed 64

Parasites and Diseases ,.......», .., 64

3

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

TJ. S. Department oe Agriculture,

Division of Entomology,
Washington, D. C, January 19, 1892.
Sir : I have the honor to transmit, for publication as Bulletin No.
27 of this Division, the following reports by three of the field agents of
the Division on the damage done by destructive locusts during the
season of 1891.

Respectfully,

0. V. Riley,
Entomologist.
Hon. J. M. Rusk,

Secretary of Agriculture.

5

DAMAGE BY DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS.

INTRODUCTION.

The season of 1891 was marked by widespread alarm felt at the pres-
ence in force of several species of destructive locusts in different parts
of the country, and particularly in the Western States. A general
summary of these incursions was given in my annual report for 1891,
and in this bulletin are brought together the detailed reports of the
agents who were sent into the field and who carefully examined the
country from which locusts were reported.

Mr. Bruner visited portions of Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakota s.
Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, and Utah, and also made a short trip into
Manitoba; Mr. Coquillett confined his investigations to the State of
California, while Professor Osborn visited the State of Kansas only.

In addition to the localities reported upon in this bulletin Mr. Banks
visited Texas and New Mexico, but as his report was negative in char-
acter it need not be printed here. Professor Osborn's report has pre-
viously been printed in Insect Life, Volume iv, pp. 49 to 56. It will
be noticed that Mr. Bruner, in speaking of the species which I have
always placed in the genus Caloptenus, refers to them under the genus
Melanoplus. The question as to the value of Melanoplus as a genus is
discussed in the first report of the U. S. Entomological Commission,
and I prefer to hold to the older name. It will suffice, however, for the
reader of this bulletin to know that the name Melanoplus as used by Mr.
Bruner is synonymous with Caloptenus as used by me.

C. V. R.

BEPOET OK DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS.

By Lawrence Bruxer, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

Lincoln, Nebk., Octoler S, 1891.

Sir : I beg to submit herewith a report of my observations on the destructive lo-
custs of the country during the current year, a work which has engaged, as you
already know, the greater portion of my time during the past summer. While oc-
cupied with these investigations portions of Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Min-
nesota, Montana, Idaho, and Utah, along with the Eed River Valley of Manitoba,
were visited by me. In addition to the regions personally examined, I am also ena-
bled to include reports on other districts based upon reports and specimens obtained
from friends who themselves had examined into the conditions of these affairs.
It will not seem surprising, therefore, if the greater portion of my report relates to
this particular group of insects. Since there have been a number of species of these
destructive locusts concerned in the injuries inflicted in various portions of the
country during the season, I have thought it best not only to mention all of these,
but also to include such others as have been recorded as pests during former years,
as well as those that are liable in the future to become injurious over local areas.
This report can then serve as a sort of reference hereafter for those wishing to study
the injurious insects of this class found in America north of Mexico.

It is but just here to acknowledge the aid which I have received from various rail-
road companies that took sufficient interest in the locust question to grant it, in the
shape of transportation by which I was enabled to visit many regions that would not
otherwise have been reached. I would also extend my thanks to all those persons
who have aided me in any manner whatsoever during the summer's work among the
destructive locusts.

The regions visited by myself and other agents of the Division early in the season,
as well as those examined by Messrs. Snow and Popenoe, of Kansas, have been re-
ported upon heretofore; hence will not be treated at length here. The district com-
prised in North Dakota and Minnesota, over which the true Migratory or Rooky
Mountain Locust was more or less abundant, has been carefully studied during the
year by Prof. C. B. Waldron in the former and Prof. Otto Lugger in the latter Slate.
The reports of these gentlemen are appended hereto.
Very respectfully yours,

Lawrence Brunjul

Prof. C. V. Kiley,
U. S. Entomologist.

i)

10

About the middle of June reports of damage by grasshoppers or
locusts began to make their appearance in the papers of the country at
large, and especially were such reports of frequent occurrence and of
an alarming nature in the region where the Eocky Mountain locust rav-
aged the country some years ago. Nor were these reports purely rumor,
for it was definitely known to entomologists and others that numbers of
these insects had hatched in various parts of the country and were at
this time devouring the vegetation at an alarming rate. The past few
years had also been very favorable to their increase, while considerable in-
jury to crops had actually been done by these insects during last year. In
Colorado railroad trains had been stopped by the insects which gathered
upon the rails and were crushed by the heavy wheels of the locomotives.
.From Idaho and California came reports of grasshopper swarms, and in
portions of Minnesota and North Dakota these insects were known to
occur in numbers too great for the settlers to be troubled with visions
of overflowing granaries. Accordingly, quite early in July the Secre-
tary of Agriculture decided upon a general tour of inspection by spe-
cialists in insect study, who were to work under the direction of Prof. C.
Y. Eiley, the United States Entomologist. Several field agents located
in different parts of the Union were immediately instructed to examine
into the reports emanating from adjacent localities, and to report the
results of such investigations promptly.

Having been more or less constantly engaged in the special study of
this particular group of insects for the past ten or eleven years, the
writer was instructed to make a general tour of inspection over the re-
gion known as the range of the Rocky Mountain or Migratory Locust.
During the time occupied in carrying out these instructions portions of
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba,
Idaho, and Utah were traversed. The following reports will give some
idea of the results of these various regions visited :

THE LOCUST PEST IN COLORADO.

The first locality which I visited for the purpose of studying these
destructive locusts was located in eastern Colorado upon the plains in
the vicinity of the town of Akron, on the line of the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad. Here it was found that a large, long-winged
locust, which is known scientifically by the name of Dissosteira longi-
pennis Thos., was the culprit, and that it was really destroying the
grasses on the prairies over an area of fully 400 square miles of terri-
tory. A little investigation showed it to be the same species that was
present farther to the southward, and that had been the cause of the
newspaper reports which filled the columns of the dailies at the time.
By driving northward from Akron across the country to the Platte
River, other small detached swarms of the same locust were encoun-
tered, and judging from such reports as were obtainable at Sterling,

11

this insect also occurred in destructive numbers in several limited lo-
calities of southeastern Wyoming.

At about the same time that I was investigating the northern border
of the region occupied by the Long- winged Locust. Messrs. Snow and
Popenoe, of Kansas, were studying it along its southern limits, where
they found the insect in even much greater numbers than I did along
its northern limits of abundance. As those gentlemen have made a
much more thorough investigation of the pest than I have, and have
written a rather full report of the results of their labors, the readers are
referred to that paper if they desire to obtain the full particulars.

The description, habits, distribution, and life-history of this species
will be given farther on in this report, in connection with like particu-
lars in reference to other species of these destructive insects which oc-
cur in ^Nbrth America north of the Mexican boundary.

THE LOCUST PEST IN THE EED RIVER VALLEY OF NORTH DAKOTA,
MINNESOTA, AND MANITOBA.

After returning to Lincoln from this Colorado trip, the Bed River Yalley
of Xorth Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba was visited. In this latter
region it was reported that the genuine Eocky Mountain Locust {Me-
lanoplus spretus) was doing some injury to grain. Upon arriving at St.
Anthony Park, where I expected to find the Entomologist of the Minne-
sota Experiment Station, it was found that that gentleman was away
from home among the grasshoppers in the northern part of his State.
The next halt was made at Fargo, X. Dak., where my letter of instruc-
tions suggested that I had better stop and confer with the officials of
the experiment station located here, since they were more apt to be fa-
miliar with the locust question so far as their State was concerned than
would anyone else. Here also I found that most of the station workers
were away from home engaged in active work against the locust pest.

By lingering in the vicinity for a few days, and occupying my time
in making collections of such species of locusts as were to be found
about the college, I was enabled to leave at least twenty species of
authentically labeled specimens with the authorities when they returned
a few days later. Afterwards a number of infested localities were
visited in company with Prof. C. B. Waldron, who had chief charge of
the locust work in this State. These short journeys over the region
sufficed to show conclusively that not only was the true Migratory
Locust present, but also three other species, all engaged in the injuries
to crops in the region under consideration. Here then, in the Bed
River Yalley and for some distance back into the " hills" to the west-
ward, were four distinct species of locusts present in unusually large
numbers, while, in addition to these, a number of other species were
by no means rare. A journey as far north as Winnipeg, in the prov-
ince of Manitoba, showed that this region of undue increase among
these various locusts also extended into that country for some miles be-

12

yond the point reached. Not having the authority to proceed, T was
unable to determine the exact boundary of this region ; but from what
I was able to learn through inquiry among the intelligent inhabitants,
it was surmised that at least one-half of the province was to be in-
cluded within that boundary. Of course I do not wish to be understood
that every portion of the territory thus included was covered by the
pest, for such was not the case. The hoppers occurred in spots in
Manitoba just as they did in Minnesota and North Dakota. I found
that this region contained the following species of locusts in hurtful
numbers : the Rocky Mountain or true Migratory (MelanopUis spretus),
the Lesser Migratory [Melanoplus atlanis), the Two-striped Locust (Me-
lanoplus Mvittatus), and the Pellucid Locust (Camnula pellucida).

Further inquiry resulted in showing that the Eocky Mountain species
had entered North Dakota during the previous fall from the northwest,
dropping into the State at a point just east of the Turtle Mountains,
and leaving the first batch of eggs near the town of Oando in Tower
County. From here they evidently passed eastward and a little to the
south, leaving eggs at various points along the route wherever the con-
ditions were favorable.

It is quite probable that these locusts which entered the country last
fall were those that had hatche I in spring in the vicinity of Eegina
and disappeared from that region in a southeasterly direction after be-
coming fledged. Should this be the case, there are now no other
swarms of this particular locust in the United States and British
America that we know of, nor does the species appear to be even com-
mon in other localities j hence the importance of extra efforts on the
part of all interested parties at this particular time to stamp out the
pest where it occurs at present. We can easily afford to be without it,
for, as the succeeding pages will show, we have plenty of other locusts
that are apt to occupy our attention during almost any year in the
future. That any of these destructive locusts can be successfully fought
and their injuries prevented has been pretty well demonstrated time
and again. At no time, however, has this been so plainly shown as
during the past spring and summer in this very region in question.
This comparative ease with which the insect was handled here is chiefly
due to its habit of egg-laying varying somewhat in the Eed River Val-
ley from what it is known to be in other parts of the country where it
has been studied.

The attached reports of Messrs. Lugger and Waldron, who have been
in the region and who had under their direction nearly all of the war-
fare already mentioned, will best serve to show the modus operandi
followed and the results secured. Careful estimates have been made
as to the actual benefits to be derived from fighting these destructive
grasshoppers, and the figures obtained are really surprising. It is
supposed that at least calculation 20,000 acres of wheat alone were
saved which otherwise would have been destroyed by the locusts that

13

were killed before and after hatching. This wheat, at 3Q btushelfl to the
acre, an average yield for the twelve counties where the locust plague
occurred, would be worth about $400,000. The actual outlay in money
by the authorities, State and county, for machinery and oil could not
have been more than $1 for each $50 saved. Wewere told thai in tin-
two States together there were over 200 " hopper-dozers n at work col-
lecting and destroying the locusts. These machines were kepi going
for fully two weeks, some of them longer, and each machine canghl
from 4 to 11 bushels of the locusts per day. It is supposed that fully
as many as 8,000 to 10,000 bushels were thus destroyed, many of them
being quite small and hence counted for more. At any rate, the de-
struction was great. An equal number were destroyed by plowing the
eggs under prior to their hatching. These figures represent an actual
present saving ; but what shall we say about the probable future sav-
ing to the settlers of these two States and of those adjoining, had none
of this work of destruction been carried on? With favoring conditions
in climate and surroundings nearly all of our various species are capa-
ble of increasing at the ratio of fifty-fold; i. e., each female will lay
upwards of 100 eggs. About one-half of the young hatched from these
eggs will be males and the other half females. Therefore, if twelve
counties are overrun with these insects this year, and they all live to
deposit eggs, with all favoring circumstances the result will be suffic-
ient hoppers by the following year to overrun fifty times twelve coun-
ties, or six hundred counties, a matter too formidable to think of.

Since T have already reported to you the results of this trip through
the Red River Valley, and alse spoken of it at the Washington meet-
ing of the Association of Economic Entomologists, I will not enter
farther into details here. Suffice it to say, that after going over the
regions already indicated, I went west over the line of the Great North-
ern Railroad to Helena, Mont., stopping oft' at convenient points along
the road. At these places inquiries were made among the settlers con
cnning locust abundance, besides goingout into the country and exam-
ining for myself to make doubly sure that there were no migratory
locusts in the entire country west of Devil's Lake in North Dakota.
Only at several points in the mountains of Montana did I find these
insects at all abundant, and there only over very limited areas where
the Camnula pellucida occurred in the valleys, in hay fields.

PROF. "WA I. Minx's REPORT.

Fargo, N. Dak., lug. 6, 189L
Dear Sir: [n compliance with your request, I submit t ho following report con-
cerning the recent appearance of grasshoppers in North Dakota.

The first report of grasshoppers came from Orr, a station in the northern part of
Grand Forks County. The report was received July " 35, and on July 26 I went to
the infested region and found a considerable number of grasshoppers, the oldest of
which had been hatched two or three weeks before, while new ones wore appealing

*This must he a mistake, and 1 think should read Ma\ 25 instead,— J* tf.

14

constantly. The two prevailing species were the Caloptenus spretus and the Calop-
tenus atlanis. The former species was the most numerous, the ratio heing ahout
4 to 1. Other species existed, hut as they were found hut sparingly no attempt was
made to enumerate them.

As was to he supposed, the hatching was confined entirely to the stuhhle fields.
From these the young insects moved forward onto the adjacent wheat fields, and at
the time of my first visit a narrow strip of grain along a few of the fields had heen
destroyed. The usual methods of extermination were resorted to, i. e., the plowing
of the adjacent stubble fields and the use of hopper-dozers along the edges of the
infested fields.

The Great Northern Eailway immediately plowed all of its lands in which the
grasshoppers were hatching, and, so far as it was possible, most of the farmers did
the same. The beneficial effect of the plowing was very marked even after the proc-
ess of hatching was well advanced.

The work of the coal-tar and kerosene hopper-dozers was also very effective, each
pan catching from 5 to 8 bushels per day. The canvas traps, such as were reported
as giving more or less satisfactory results elsewhere, were abandoned after the first
one or two trials. When canvas traps are used the grasshoppers have to be caught
twice, and the second operation — that of securing them after they have jumped into
the bag — is the more difficult one; so difficult, in fact, as to border on the impossible.

While working at Orr reports came in from the adjoining regions, showing that
the infested region reached as far north as the center of Walsh County, nearly as
far south as Larimore, and occupied a region some 10 miles wide. The grasshoppers
did not cover the entire region, but were found in patches here and there, more
noticeably in the vicinity of Park Eiver, Conway, and Inkster, with a few at
McCanna and Niagara. They were also found through the central part of Nelson
County, though not in destructive numbers.

Grasshoppers were also found to some extent in the western part of Ramsey
County, at a place called Church's Ferry, and north from there 18 miles, at Cando.
In all of the places mentioned the Rocky Mountain Locust was the prevailing kind. A
few of this species, associated with many others, chiefly the Caloptenus bivittatus, were
found at Clifford, in the western part of Trail County. The Rocky Mountain Locust
was also reported from the central part of Ransom County, but as they were few in
number the locality was not visited. The work of extermination was carried on in
all parts of the State in which the grasshoppers appeared in sufficient numbers.
While the damage to this year's crop would not have been great in any event, yet
the warfare in many localities has no doubt resulted in a larger crop than would
otherwise have been harvested.

Our chief concern is for the coming year. I shall stay in the infested localities
for the remainder of the season, carefully noting in what regions, if any, the eggs
are laid, so that we may carry on the work of future extermination intelligently
and thoroughly.

C. B. Waldron.

Mr. Lawrence Bruner,

Lincoln, iVe&r,

I add still further matter in reference to this outbreak of locusts in
Korth Dakota in the shape of a special bulletin, which was issued from
the Agricultural Experiment Station of that State early in July. This
bulletin was prepared conjointly by the Director, Dr. H. E. Stockbridge,
and Prof. C. B. Waldron, whose report is already given. This special
bulletin is not large, hence will be copied in full,

15

INTRODUCTION.

(By H . E. Stockbridge.)

On June 10 the Director of the North Dakota Experiment Station received a tele-
gram from Superintendent Jenks, of the Dakota division of the Great Northern Rail-
road, dated Larimore, announcing the presence of grasshoppers in overwhelming
numbers in the vicinity of Orr, Grand Forks County, and requesting assistance and
advice in the premises. Professor Waldron, of the station staff, nnder tnsti net ion-,
left for the scene of the outbreak on the first train leaving Fargo after the announce-
ment was received, and June 20 returned with specimens of the locusts and full par-
ticulars concerning the presence, numbers, and amount of devastation wrought,
gathered by personal inspection in the field. After further consultation, Professoi
Waldron immediately returned to Orr, with full instructions and authority to take
any steps or action necessary and incur any legitimate expense required for the sup-
pression of the outbreak and extermination of the pest coming properly within the
sphere or jurisdiction of the station.

Meanwhile communications had been received from the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture, the Commissioners of Grand Forks County, and several interviews had been held
with the Governor of the State looking toward control of conditions and prevention
of ravage.

On June 25 the increased presence of the pest and its extension to other localities
seemed to demand more stringent measures for suppression, and after a thorough in-
spection of the infected localities in Grand Forks County, and a consultation, by re-
quest, with the township commissioners of the infected townships, it was decided
that a more extended use of the hopper-dozer and the plowing of large areas of stub-
ble must be immediately instituted. The use of the dozer was easily accomplished.
Twelve of these implements were immediately ordered and put to their work of exe-
cution, while a further and large shipment of coal tar was ordered by telegraph.
The land-owners in the interested localities seemed to recognize the emergency, and
manifested a willingness to do everything in their power toward exterminating the
enemy. A great difficulty, however, lay in the impossibility of plowing with pasture-
fed horses, and the impossibility, in many cases, of procuring grain or feed on indi-
vidual responsibility, while the ownership of stubble by non-residents was a further
obstacle to 1 1 1 « - immediate plowing of such land, and thus exterminating their grass-
hopper denizens. On returning to Grand Forks the Governor of the State, the resi-
dent county commissioner, Commissioner of Agriculture Helgesen, Professor Waldron,
and the director of the station immediately held an interview, in which the exigen-
cies of the occasion were fully discussed and further measures of control instituted,
feed was immediately shipped to the infested localities on the responsibility of the
county commissioners. The general authority of the State in the premises, so far as
active measures were concerned, was placed in the hands of the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture, while immediate supervision of disbursements was intrusted to resident
county commissioners. Professor Waldron, on behalf of the experiment station, was
instructed to remain in the field, visit every new locality of outbreak, and furnish all
advice, and assistance possible in the premises, remaining in personal control of the
means of suppression at Orr and Inkster, which localities would serve for experi-
mental purposes and as illustrations of restrictive measures for the benefit of other

Communities. At present areas of limited infection exist in (nan. 1 Forks. Walsh,
Nelson, Towner, and Ramsey counties, the region of chief infection being along the
Park River branch of the Great Northern Railroad for a distance o( nearly 10 miles
between Larimore and Park River, and it is here the only real damage has been
wrought and the chief cause of apprehension lies. It is now confidently believed
that with the vigorous measures adopted serious damage during the present season
is not to be anticipated. The danger lies in apathy on the part oi' the public,
which may result iu the survival of a sufficient number of the mature insects to

16

lay the eggs of broods from which, serious damage to next year's crops may follow,
and it is with a view to prevent this contingency that the present information is
placed at the disposal of the public. The measures for prevention are briefly, but
fully, explained in the present bulletin, the material for which has been chiefly pre-
pared by Prof. Waldron, perfectly familiar with the premises from actual personal
experience. The measures recommended are simple, easily followed, and so cheap and
effective that no excuse can be found for a failure to heed the warning and follow
the suggestions offered. Further than this, it should be borne in mind that plowing,
the chief dependence for prevention of the locust plague, has other advantages in
the way of soil improvement and suppression of weeds which must fully compensate
for any outlay required.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUS1

(By C. B. Waldron.)

The habits of the locust are well known, and measures for their complete destruc-
tion are so cheap and simple that they can be carried out by simply varying the
agricultural methods now practiced and not adding materially to their expense.
No attempt will be made in this bulletin to give more of the habits and natural his-
tory of the locust than is absolutely required in dealing with the problem of exter-
mination.

The eggs in the region named were doubtless laid during the latter part of August
by locusts coming over from Manitoba and perhaps from Minnesota. Flights of the
insects that were passing towards the regions now infested were observed on the
20th of August. The eggs were laid in stubble fields, as would have been supposed
from our former knowledge of the habits of the locust and as subsequent investiga-
tion proved. If the presence of the locusts last season had been properly reported
measures would have been adopted that, with no financial outlay, would have
absolutely prevented the reappearance of the pest.

It has been found by repeated trials, particularly in Minnesota, that if the eggs of
the locust are covered with 4 or 5 inches of moist earth, or 6 inches of dry earth,
the hatching will either be prevented or the young will die before being able to
reach the surface. It follows, then, that we may completely destroy the egg by plow-
ing the fields in which they are laid, either in autumn or before the middle of June,
at which time the hatching begins in this latitude. As the eggs are never laid in
thick sod nor in loosely plowed earth it will be seen that plowing need not extend to
any land except the stubble fields. If all the stubble land is put to wheat in the
regular manner, the plowing to be done either in fall or spring, no word of complaint
will come because of grasshoppers. If summer fallowing is adopted the plowing
should be done in May or early June, and the land may be plowed again in the fall
if considered necessa^. This method of fallowing, if followed from the start, has
the added advantage of destroying such weed pests as the Pepper Grass, "French
Weed," etc.

Even if the plowing is not finished before hatching begins, it should be kept up
until the stubble fields are all turned over. The period of hatching begins about
June 1, or later if the land is lower, and continues about six weeks.

When the young grasshoppers are first hatched they are covered with a little sac,
and by it enabled to push up through 2 or 3 inches of earth. If the grasshoppers
are covered with earth after the sac disappears, from lto 2 inches is sufficient to kill
them. One reason for continuing the plowing, then, is to bury and kill what in-
sects may already be hatched. Even the grasshoppers that are not plowed under
will be very apt to starve before escaping from the plowed land. As a rule it will
be found well to plow a strip 5 or 10 rods wide right around the stubble field to retain

17

the grasshoppers inside, and then the rest of the field may be plowed in the nana]
manner. The insects will he driven toward the center of each land as the plowing
proceeds, and the last furrows will be found to cover up great numbers, especially if
plowed late in the evening or as soon as it becomes daylighl in tin- morning.

If thought best, the plowing may not be finished at once, but a strip left in the
middle of each land on which the grasshoppers may be caught, or the strip may be
covered with dry straw and the insects destroyed by burning. Plowing the stubble
field is an important step in fighting the locust in -ease much grass is found growing
in the stubble. If the stubble is left standing the grasshoppers will be slow to
leave their hatching ground if the food is abundant, and thus for several week-, tin-
insects will be passing from the stubble to the wheat fields. The task of catching
them is much shorter after the fields are plowed. In catching the locust several
means have been employed at various times and places, but we will now describe only
one that being the one that from its cheapness, ease of obtaining and operating, and
general efficency, seems to be best.

The apparatus referred to is the tar pan or hopper-dozer. The pan should be made
of rather heavy sheet iron or ordinary galvanized iron. The length should be about
16 feet, width of bottom from 2\ to 3 feet, and the back about 2 feet high. The back
may be made higher by a strip of gunny-cloth or a board, if experience shows the
necessity. Along the front edge of the pan is placed a board from 1 to 2 inches thick
and 4 inches wide. This is beveled on the lower front corner, so that the pan may
pass easily over obstructions, and the iron that constitutes the bottom of the pan is
brought around the front edge of this strip and nailed on top. The pan is further
strengthened by a strip of timber along the back. The ends are of \\ inch plank,
each bearing a clevis at the front for drawing the pan. The pan is drawn by two
horses, one hitched in front of each end, on a rope about 10 feet long. Fastened to
these ropes by a strong cord is a 16 foot pole so arranged as to drag about a foot in
front of the pan so as to scare up the grasshoppers.

The pan is heavily smeared with coal tar, thus catching and holding all insects
that jump in. It is a good plan to add a small amount of kerosene to the coal tar,
so that the locusts may die almost as soon as entering the pan. Ordinary observa-
tion will enable a person to see when the insects should be scraped out and a fresh
supply of tar added. The most effective time of day for using the dozer is toward
evening when the insects are feeding. A pan working in this manner will catch
several bushels a day in regions that are badly infested.

Sir: I have just returned from my canvass of the grasshopper region and find the
situation to be as follows :

In general there appears to have been more or less egg laying over the whole region
outlined in my former report to you. From Orr north to Park Eiver this condition
was modified largely by the presence of what I took to be a dipterous parasite, though
I saw nothing but the larval form of this parasite and can not tell positively what it is.
The larva was about one-fourth of an inch long and turned from white to a light brow n
on emerging from its host. In certain localities fully three-fourths of the Caloptenua
sjiretus and C. atlania were destroyed by the timely ravages of this parasite, but the
C. bivittatiis seemed to escape its attacks. In the vicinity of Larimore the parasite
appeared but little. The region in which the greatest number of eggs is deposited
is the southern part of Towner County in the vicinity of Cando. The C. tpretut
was abundant here and stayed till very late with no trace of parasites. The same
condition exists all over Benson and Ramsey counties though in these last-named re-
gions the grasshoppers themselves were far less numerous. The gospel of plowing
has been so thoroughly preached that little danger may be expected except in what

19539—1*0. 27 2

18

may be called the outskirts of tlie grasshopper region, i. e. the western part of Walsh
County, the southern part of Cavalier, and the northern half of Ramsey County. In
these places many of the farms have been deserted and the chance for extermination
thereby lessened.

Very truly yours,

C. B. Waldron.

MIGRATORY LOCUSTS IN MINNESOTA IN 1891.*
(By Otto Lugger.)

The year 1891 has been remarkable, as far as insects are concerned, for a multitude
of very noxious insects. Species, in former years rather uncommon, have appeared
in vast numbers, causing more or less alarm on that account. A number of reasons
may be given for such a state of affairs ; but the present bulletin is not the proper
place to discuss them. The chief causes may, however, be stated to be exceptionally
mild winters and uniformly favorable growing seasons.

Among the numerous injurious insects of 1891 none are more dangerous than the
various species of locusts or grasshoppers. Besides the native species, which in
seasons favorable to locusts are always more or less injurious, we have to deal at
present with three kinds of migratory locusts, i. e. : Rocky Mountain Locust (Mclano-
plus spretus, Thos.), Lesser Migratory Locust (Melanoplus atlanis, Riley), Pellucid
Locust (Camnula pellucida, Scudd.).

In the report of the Entomologist to the Board of Regents, published in the Bien-
nial Report for 1890, page 17, the following statement was made :

" But the danger of fresh invasion remains, and it is in the line of wise legislation
to take time by the forelock, and provide the necessary means for suppressing an-
other outbreak. The Rocky Mountain Locusts are becoming very numerous in their
native breeding places, and have already produced some swarms extending beyond
their usual haunts. In fact a large swarm of locusts passed on August 14, 1890, over
Crookston, flying in a southeasterly direction. It is true the few mutilated speci-
mens received by the Entomologist indicated three native species, but this material
was insufficient to furnish proof that the ' Hateful Grasshopper' was not a member of
this swarm. Through the kindness of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Rail-
road, the Entomologist was enabled to inquire into this matter, and found that this
swarm had continued its flight from Crookston over Fosston, and had landed near to
and in theupper Rice Lake,in the White Earth Indian Reservation, where the great ma-
jority of the insects composing this swarm perished. Some eggs were deposited near
Crookston, and especial attention should be paid to the locusts resulting from them;
but it could not be learned that others had been laid elsewhere. It will be very wise
to recollect that the number of locusts in their home have reached the danger mark,
and may, if favored by a suitable season, become not simply a menace but a reality."

After the publication of that report more material Avas received, which proved be-
yond doubt that the swarm entering the Red River Valley was composed mainly of
migratory species. But even without such additional proofs it was quite certain
that we had to deal with migratory species, as all our native ones, not being able to
make extended flights, could not form such large swarms. Notwithstanding the
evidence and warning of danger, no preventive measures were adopted and the in-
truders were allowed to settle in the invaded region.

Early in June a number of newspapers published complaints that locusts were
doing considerable damage in some fields, but mainly near Pelican Rapids, Otter
Tail County. A visit to that region indicated that a small swarm of locusts had de-
posited their eggs in that locality, but that timely work would suffice to kill all the

^Reprinted from Bulletin No. 17, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

19

young insects, as they were small at thai time. The species fonnd ;it Pelican Rapids
was the Lesser Migratory Locust, reenforced by very numerous specimens of the
two-striped Bpecies. No real Rocky Mountain Locusl cotild be found. I. at.
ports of damages caused by locusts in various parts of I he Red River Valley reached
his excellency Governor W. R. Merriam, who requested me to proceed at one- to the
infested region, and to do all that could be done at the time to prevent another out-
break of a locust plague. The Governor also instructed the county commissioners in
the infested region to do all that could he done to stamp out the Locusts in their
respective count its.

When I reached the Red River Valley it was almost too late in the season t<. per-
form real effective work, as the great majority of these injurious Insects had already
acquired wings. Near Crookston, Polk County, the chairman of the county commis-
sioners, Mr. Kirsch, had already commenced operations, and had done some very
good work, both by plowing infested fields and by poisoning the grain growing upon
adjoining ones. In fact, in several cases he had killed the insects to such an extent
that but very few escaped. If his example had been followed everywhere the ma-
jority of the dangerous kinds of locusts would have been killed; hut owing to a be-
lief that the species found in such numbers was only a harmless one, few farmers
adopted his methods, while many others even ridiculed the idea of having any
migratory insects in the county at all. It is rather peculiar what strange freaks
memory will play in some cases. Among others some fanners who had passed
through former grasshopper troubles claimed that the Rocky Mountain Locusts were
insects fully 2, 3, or even 4 inches in length, aud that moreover were provided with
six wings.

As soon as possible a large number of hopper-dozers were constructed and were
distributed by County Commissioner Kirsch to all farmers who wished to use them.
Both hopper-dozers and kerosene oil were furnished free by the county, and many
farmers set to work to kill as many of the intruders as possible. The insects, being
already winged and very active, could no longer be caught during the day; hut
towards evening, when they crawl to the highest points of the plant to escape the
chilling effect of the moist soil, the machines proved of great value and immense
numbers of locusts were killed. Various modifications of the hopper-dozers were
used to suit the varying conditions of the fields and of the crops. Other intelligent
farmers and merchants living in the counties of Marshall, and Kittson obtained
models of these machines and commenced in earnest to destroy their enemy.

A close inspection of the invaded region showed that the sandy ridge running
north and south through the counties of Polk, Marshall, and Kittson was more or less
infested in spots. Without any exception locusts were found only in fields that had
been plowed in July and August, 1890, or before the invading insects had deposited
their eggs. In no case were locusts found in the native prairie nor in any soil that
had been plowed late in fall or early in spring. These observations coincide exact ly
with those made a few years ago in Otter Tail County and indicate very plainly how
to prevent locusts from causing injury in 1892. This inspection also showed that
we have to deal not alone with one kind of migratory locusts, but witli two other
species equally injurious. Near Crookston the Lesser Migratory Bpecies is the most
common one, but farther north the Rocky Mountain Locust becomes more numerous,
and in the extreme north of Kittson County the Pellucid Locust i> very abundant.
The two former species prefer the dry and more sandy soil, the latter the richer and
moist land.

The third species, the Pellucid Locust, now injurious in the Bed River Yalh
quite different from any of the above three species. Many other locusts occur in
large numbers in the infested region and are frequently mistaken for the migratory
species. A close inspection of the illustrations below will show that they are quite
different, and need not, with a little attention, be mistaken for any of the migratory
species.

20

The common native Two-striped Locust is very numerous throughut the infested
region, doing considerable damage.

Remedies. — Besides the usual methods of killing locusts, some of which are very-
valuable if carried out at the proper time, there is but one other excellent remedy-
left to prevent further injury: plowing the ground after eggs have been laid.
This remedy has been applied two years ago on a large scale in Otter Tail County
and has proved a complete success. As the conditions in the newly infested regions
are similar, there is no doubt that similar results will be obtained if the same remedy
is carried out thoroughly. All the locusts now infesting the invaded counties came
from fields that were not plowed. In places where the whole of the cultivated soil
was plowed, no locusts could be found. Of course at the time of writing this bulle-
tin the state of affairs is different, as the insects have scattered over a much larger
area. But if every farmer will plow all his stubble land either this fall, after the
eggs have been laid, or in early spring, no fears of losses by locusts need be enter-
tained. But to make the reader understand the case more clearly, it is necessary to
describe in detail how the eggs are laid and what effect plowing will have. I quote
from Bulletin 8, published by the Station during July, 1889.

To repeat again : " If we desire to get rid of the migratory species of locusts now in-
festing several counties of the State, it is absolutely necessary to plow every inch of
the cultivated ground throughout the invaded region. Of course prairies are excepted,
the soil in them being filled with a dense mass of roots, thus being unsuitable for the
purpose of egg-laying. Simply cultivating in spring, as advised by some, is perfectly
useless and proved a total failure Avhere tried. Summer fallow invites the locusts
to deposit their eggs in soil thus prepared, and all land thus treated must be plowed
again, either later in autumn or early in spring."

Natural remedies. — There are at this time many natural agencies in our favor and
working for us, and no doubt immense numbers of locusts will be killed by them.
Nearly if not quite all the parasites known to infest locusts are found in large num-
bers throughout the invaded region. In some places the Eed Mite was found in im-
mense numbers infesting not alone the bulky Two-striped Locust, but also those mi-
gratory species which love drier soil. In some fields in which the locusts had hatched
nearly every individual had from five to twenty of these mites fastened to its under
wings and the locusts were doomed. Evidently they knew this as well, as they did
not move about in such a lively manner, but seemed out of sorts. But these were
exceptional cases, as all the adjoining fields of wheat were overrun Avith healthy
specimens — too healthy to suit the farmer. The explanation lies in the fact that the
healthy locusts had escaped all danger from the Red Mites by migrating to the land
of plenty, the wheat fields. Numerous other parasites occurred almost everywhere,
but chief among them was one of the "old-fashioned" Potato Beetles, or Blister Beetles.
This insect (Epicauta pennsylvanica) was so numerous as to seriously injure the po-
tato crop. And yet, though very injurious to potatoes, this beetle ought to be pro-
tected for once, as in its earlier stage it feeds exclusively upon the eggs of the locust.
Many predaceous insects are also in full operation to reduce to some slight extent
the numbers of the intruders. It was a crnel yet withal a pleasant sight to see the
large numbers of Ground-beetles (Calosoma calidum) giving battle to the locusts.
Even large specimens were attacked, and notwithstanding a most desperate struggle
the locust was soon consumed. Another beetle (Pasimaclius sp.), much more shy
in all its actions, being a nocturnal insect, was found in large numbers engaged in
devouring the enemy. Even spiders assist in this good work, and a number of the
common Wolf Spiders (Phydijppus trigunctatus) were seen to attack and kill locusts.

21

Report to his Excellency Governor IV. /.'. Merriam in regard to (he Migratory Locust* in-
f eating portions of Minnesota.

On August 14, 1890, a large swarm of locusts or grasshoppers entered the State oi

Minnesota. They were observed in a number of places, but chiefly at Crookston,
Hallock, and otber points in the Red River Valley. I his swarm came from the north-
west and flew in a southeasterly direction. Through the kindness of the G
Northern Railroad I was enabled last summer to make close inquiry in the regions
where this swarm had been observed, and I could follow one that had passed Crooks-
ton in an easterly direction to Fosston into the White Earth Indian Reservation,
where immense numbers of the locusts composing it had perished in the upper Rice
Lake. Close inspection also revealed the fact that eggs had been deposited in some
places. At the time in which the above investigation was made it was impossible to
obtain many specimens of the insects composing this swarm, but the mutilated ma-
terial obtained indicated, besides the common native species, at least two species of
locusts not usually found with us, one of which was the Lesser Migratory Locust
(Melanoplus atlanis Riley) and the second a locust evidently belonging to a different
genus, but not identified at the time.

As our native locusts do not form swarms like the one invading Minnesota on Au-
gust 14, 1890, it was quite certain that we had to deal with species more formidable
and dangerous, and I deemed it my duty to call attention to this invasion, stating
that it was in the line of wise legislation to take time by the forelock and provide
the necessary means for suppressing another outbreak. This was done in the last
Biennial Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station, page 17. For some reason,
however, no action was taken.

When a swarm of locusts passes a region the females, heavy with maturing eggs,
are very apt to lag behind and drop to the ground whenever the soil is of such a
character as to iuvite them to deposit their eggs. Suitable for such a purpose is all
soil that is well drained and which contains very few roots of plants.

Early in June of the present year a number of letters were received from different
parts of the State about exceptionally large numbers of locusts. This was to be ex-
pected, even without the addition of the migratory species, as the last few seasons
had been greatly in favor of all kinds of locusts and other insects that thrive hest in
dry and hot summers following a mild winter. The first alarm, in the form of arti-
cles in some of our daily papers, came from Pelican Rapids, in Otter Tail County.
My investigation of this case showed that a small area near that place had been in-
fested, but chiefly by various native species and the Lesser Migratory Locust. Pay-
ing proper attention to this local trouble removed cause for alarm.

The attention of your Excellency was next drawn to the more alarming reports
coming from the Red River Valley, and you ordered me to proceed at once to the in-
fested region, and for the last forty days I have been engaged in traveling through
the different counties invaded and in instructing farmers in the proper means to com-
bat their enemy.

In Minnesota five counties are infested with migratory specie* of locusts. Three
distinct species, besides the native, are now causing well-founded alarm. The Lesser
Migratory Locust (Melanoplus atlanis, Riley) is the most abundant species. The
true Rocky Mountain Locust (Melanophts spretus, Thomas) is also very common, and
the Pellucid Locust (Camnula pellucida, Scudd.) occurs also in alarming numbers in
the more northern part of the invaded region. The Two-striped Locust \ Melanoplus
bicittatus, Scudd.), though a native species, is exceedingly numerous in many places
and causes considerable damage.

The Lesser Migratory Locust occurs in very large numbers in parts of the counties
of Polk. Marshall, Kittso'n. Ottertail. and Hubbard, and extends eastward as far
as the cities of Duluth and Tower, St. Louis County, and is doubtless found in
more isolated swarms in the whole northern part of the State. The Pellucid Locust

22

occurs only in the lower or moister parts of Kittson County, and is also found incon-
siderable numbers at Pembina, N. Dak.

We have to deal in this instance with three of the worst species of locusts found
in the United States. The region invaded is quite well defined, and the insects occur
thus far only in certain spots, but of course this state of affairs will be somewhat
changed during the month of August. The central parts of Polk, Marshall, and
Kittson Counties from south to north are more or less affected; or, in other words,
the sandy ridge running from south to north in above counties is invaded by the
Lesser and by the Rocky Mountain Locust. Evidently this sandy ridge attracted
the females to deposit their eggs, or the eggs laid elsewhere in the black and more
moist soil did not hatch. The former theory is very likely the true one, as the in-
stincts of the female prompt her to deposit her eggs wherever there is good drainage,
an important factor to the well-being of the eggs of those insects. But not the whole
of this more or less sandy region is thus infested, as the locusts occur only in well-
defined small areas. A close inspection of several hundreds of fields revealed the
undisputable fact that all eggs laid by the invading swarm were laid in stubble
fields and in summer fallow. In no case were the locusts found in the prairie or in
fields not surrounded by or adjacent to stubble fields. All the dangerous locusts
hatched there and thence invaded the neighboring fields of grain. In a large num-
ber of cases the young locusts marched in regular order to the fields of barley, wheat,
and oats, and swept away every trace of vegetation for several rods, in some cases
many acres. As they grew older they scattered around more, and the exceedingly
rank growth of the grain shows at the present time but slight damage. In badly
infested fields, however, nearly all the foliage has been eaten, and the heads alone
remain. Even these are now devoured in many instances, but only in the more sandy
regions. There is still considerable danger to the crops in some parts of the infested
regions. As the foliage of the various kinds of grain becomes older and riper it be-
comes also unfit for food, and the locusts will be forced to attack the growing part
of the plants, the heads. In some fields this is already the case, and the locusts eat
out the growing kernel, or even bite off the whole ear.

Both the Lesser Migratory and the Rocky Mountain Locust infest mainly the more
sandy and drier region of the invaded county. The Pellucid Locust seems to prefer
entirely different localities, and is at the present time only found in the lower and
moister regions, chiefly in the northern part of Kittson County, and in the corre-
sponding parts of North Dakota. There it is quite injurious, and may prove even a
greater enemy than either of the other migratory species.

All these locusts, although very numerous in some regions, are as yet not numer-
ous enough to cause very serious loss to the general crop. Many farmers will lose
a large part of their crops; some few may lose even every thiug.

All these species of locusts, being fresh arrivals from the Northwest, are in a re-
markably healthy condition, and consequently much more dangerous than if they
had been here some time longer. The two species, loving dry and warm soil, show
this to a remarkable degree. If stubble fields in which the eggs were laid are in-
vestigated at this time it will be found that fully one-half of the locusts are infested
with their deadly enemy, the Red Mite, and this in most instances to such a degree
that they will be disabled and unable to deposit eggs for another generation. But
if we investigate the adjoining fields, with their promising crops of grain, we soon
discover a very different state of affairs. Here almost every locust is free from par-
asites and enjoying life in grasshopper fashion to the fullest extent, and the intrud-
ers will be able to deposit immense numbers of eggs. Evidently the locusts infested
with parasites take a gloomy view of life, and have lost their usual energy to such
an extent as not even to migrate to the adjoining land of plenty. The common Two-
striped Locust of the Red River Valley, although quite an injurious insect if numer-
ous, is now badly infested with numerous kinds of parasites and is consequently to
be considered as a friend,, since the parasites infesting it will next spring take pos-

23

session of the Invading species. All the important species of parasites occur in fairly
large numbers throughout the infested region. One species, the common Black Blis-
ter-beetle, [sal this time so numerous as to seriously damage the potato crop; it i-.

even mi i el i more numerous and injurious than the Colorado Potato-beetle.

Considering the locust invasion in all its bearings, th<- true state of affairs may be
summed up in a few sentences. There are not enough locust-, to seriously injure the
crop of 1891, though some farmers will lose considerable. Many parasites are a1
hand to assist us in 1892. The great bulk of the invading species arc still remarkably
healthy, and will lay enough eggs to produce immense swarms in 1892 if not pre-
vented by artificial or natural means. They are still local, and can be exterminated
by energetic and prompt means.

Your Excellency, knowing the great danger of another locust trouble, perhaps
similar to that experienced from 1872 to 1876, has taken the only possible way to
prevent it by instructing the county commissioners of the infested regions to take
the proper steps for fighting these insects. Some of the commissioners thus called
upon have responded cheerfully and have acted at once, but others do not seem to
consider the locusts as dangerous enough to cause serious losses. Such a view is
very short-sighted. EAren if these injurious insects do not seriously endanger the
crop of 1891, they will assuredly do so in 1892 if not stamped out in time. "An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure " is an old saying, but a very true one,
and ought to be made the leading impulse in our work against these intruders. In
Polk County a large number of hopper-dozers have been in operation under the in-
telligent and energetic leadership of the chairman of the county commissioners, and
have done good execution. As all the locusts, or nearly all, were already winged
when the machines were put in operation, very little could be done with them dur-
ing the warmer parts of the day, but late in the evening, during the night, and early
in the morning, when the insects are sluggish and crawl up to the highest parts of
the plants, immense numbers wrere killed, and many fields could thus be saved. At
the present time the grain is too far advanced to use such machines, except in ex-
treme cases. The only remedy, and the only one that will effectually do the work,
is plowing all the fields known to contain the eggs of locusts. If a good crop is se-
cured next month a large portion of the cultivated land will be plowed, thus killing
off immense numbers of locusts in 1892. But all the other cultivated laud should
also be plowed after the eggs have been laid. The locusts have commenced to mate
and will soon deposit their eggs, and continue this work until sometime in Septem-
ber. This time of egg-laying depends, of course, upon climatic conditions, and may
be greatly shortened or lengthened. At all events, however, no land should be
plowed before all the eggs have been deposited. If already plowed, or plowed he-
fore the eggs have been laid, a second plowing later in autumn or as early as possible
in spring will be absolutely necessary. The locusts prefer ground free from roots
and well drained. Such ground we furnish them now by summer fallow and later
by early plowing. All fields treated in this manner are very suspicious and ought
to be plowed again.

I have recommended that instead of summer fallowing, to plow now only to a depth
of 2 inches and later to the usual depth. Concerted action is absolutely necessary,
and the ignorant or slovenly farmer should not be permitted to endanger the future
crops of his neighbors and perhaps that of a large part of the State. The county
commissioners can help greatly in this good work, and should, if necessary, force all
farmers to do their duty to themselves and to their fellow-farmers. In this connec-
tion permit me again to call your attention to the fact that the State of Minnesota
needs some laws to protect the good farmers against injurious insects raised bj the

poor ones. Locusts ought to be classified with certain contagious diseases, like the
smallpox, for instance, and similar laws ought to be framed to suppress these U -

as SUCh discuses.

Generally speaking, the climatic conditions prevailing this summer have been

24

greatly in favor of the farmer and have been and ai'e against such of the migratory
species of locusts as love and thrive best in a hot and dry season. This will ac-
count for the fact that but few locusts have been seen flying long distances. The
great abundance of moisture has made them sluggish and prevented their flight.
Long continued moisture is very injurious to insects of that order, and may greatly
assist us by diminishing their number, by enfeebling many, and by preventing the
depositing of eggs, except in certain regions well drained. But it would be very un-
wise to trust entirely to such favorable climatic conditions or to any other natural
means to help us. We must help ourselves, and only conscientious work will attain
that end. If favorable climatic conditions should assist us it will still be necessary
to inspect carefully all infested or even all suspected fields, and have them plowed
regardless of cost.

As usual in such cases, the railroads in the infested regions have shown their inter-
est in the war against the locusts, and thanks are due to both the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railroads for furnishing free transportation over their lines.
Very respectfully, yours,

Otto Lugger.

St. Anthony Park, Minn., August 1, 1891.

THE LOCUST PEST IN IDAHO— SUMMER OF 1891.

Soon after returning to Lincoln, Nebr., from the Washington meeting
of the official entomologists of the country, I started for the West to in-
vestigate the actual condition of the locust plague in central Idaho. Al-
though the season had advanced beyond the time for the best results
to be obtained from such an examination, it was still thought advisable
to visit the region known to have been overrun last year. Especially
was this thought the proper thing to be done since a number of appeals
for aid had been received by the Department from citizens of the in-
fested region. Leaving Lincoln on the morning of the 27th of August,
Soda Springs, in the southeastern part of Idaho, was reached early on
the morning of the 27th. At this point the first stop was made for the
purpose of ascertaining whether or not the locust plague had reached
this portion of the State. Two days were spent here, during which
time much of the surrounding country was visited. While no locust
pest occurred here it was plainly noticeable that Camnula pellucida was
greatly on the increase since last year's visit. This locust was quite
abundant upon the hay fields and along all irrigating ditches. Inqui-
ries among the various ranches from some of the surrounding valleys
indicated about the same condition of affairs at all points. On the 29th
I went on as far as McCammon, on the Port Keuff River. Here pellucida
was also rather commoner than nsual, while Melanoplus atlanis and M.
femur-rubrum were too plentiful to inspire one with thoughts of peace
from the standpoint of locust ravages in the near future. Next day a
stop was made at Pocatello and another at Shoshone. At this latter
place it was learned that the locusts had been exceedingly numerous
about four to six weeks previously, having come down Wood River
from Camas Prairie, doing much damage as they went. A few eggs
were also reported to have been deposited in several localities below

25

Shoshone; but how extensive these egg deposits were could ool be
definitely ascertained at the time. If the main body of the locusts had
moved on down the river as reported there were still plenty of them
left behind to mark the line of march, although this could easily h.
been detected without the presence of these stragglers. The bared
fields arid cropped grasses on the range alone were sufficient to mark
the line of march of the ravaging army.

At first the locusts that were seen from the train at stations along
the line of the railroad were mostly pellucida; but. as the mountains
were approached, several species of Melanoplus were also noticed in
considerable numbers. In the vicinity of Hailey the pest was quite
apparent in the damaged condition of the grasses on the range, as well
as in the appearance of the vegetation upon cultivated grounds. The
scourge had passed through here before going down the river towards
Shoshone; and, as appearances would indicate, this swarm divided at
Spring Creek, a part of it going to the eastward towards the Lost Rivers
and Birch Creek, all three of which streams with their valleys were
reached by the moving hordes of hungry insects, the other portion, as
already indicated, going down Wood River past Shoshone.

A stage -ride of 31 miles across the mountain and valley brings one to
the town of Soldier in the center of the rich Camas Prairie country —
a valley of considerable extent and wonderful fertility. This valley
has been the cradle for the present locust plague which is now spread-
ing over the surrounding portions of the State. Five years have
elapsed since the insect was first observed on the prairie in destructive
numbers, but with each successive year the plague has greatly increased
and spread over more territory. At first the pest covered but a few
square miles of country and did but little damage; the next year it
became noticeably more numerous and began moving outwards in vari-
ous directions from the center of its hatching place, and much more
damage was done both to grasses and to grain and other cultivated
crops then growing upon the fields of the few settlers who had located
and started homes for themselves in the valley. Even at this time it
would have been possible to have exterminated the pest in the valley
had only a few determined persons attempted to do so. By the time
the third summer hadcome and gone, along with its increase in the num-
bers of locusts present and the amount of damage wrought, the settlers
began to become discouraged. Still no efforts whatever were made to-
wards mitigating the evil. This third year of the pest wasa notable one.
since just before egg-laying time arrived every single hopper was re-
ported to have left the low lands in the valley for the foothills adjoin-
ing, where they laid their eggs. As most of the insects moved in a
northeasterly direction when leaving the valley, this movement gave
some new hopes to the, by this time, nearly discouraged settlers, tor it
was hoped that instead of reentering the valley the young, upon hatching
the following spring, would pass on to the northeastward. The ensuing

26

winter was one of uncommon severity even for this region, with very
deep snow, which, upon melting the following spring, flooded the low
lands for a long time. The great amount of water throughout the re-
gion caused rank growths of vegetation everywhere. Soon after the
hillsides began to be denuded of their mantles of snow and vegetation
started, the young locusts began hatching and feeding. Contrary to the
expectations of many of the inhabitants of the prairie, the feeding and
growing hoppers showed little disposition to move away from the
locality. Once, it is stated by several persons who had taken the
trouble to watch their movements, these little locusts did start off
towards the summits of the mountain chain lying to the north. This
was just before they developed their wings and while in the pupal stage.
But just as soon as they had wings, and these latter had become suffi-
ciently hardened for use, the entire SAvarm turned about and dropped
upon the valley, massing upon the fields of grain and gardens, which
they stripped in a remarkably short time. When all cultivated vege-
tation had disappeared the native grasses were attacked and devoured.
So numerous and voracious were the locusts that, notwithstanding the
rank growths caused by the abundance of water during most of the
spring and summer, when I visited the region in August the country
was pretty well divested of its covering of vegetation. Instead of
leaving the valley for the hills as their immediate ancestors of the pre-
vious year had done, these locusts of 1890 remained and laid their eggs
in the valley, choosing gravelly or somewhat sandy places for the pur-
pose. At the time of my visit most of the eggs had already been laid,
and hence it was rather a difficult problem to ascertain the exact extent
of these depositions, since but few people in the region had paid the
slightest attention to the matter, even after a fourth year of suffering-
had been passed through. It appears, however, from the number of
young locusts that were hatched the past spring that a great portion of
the valley was thus occupied.

My examinations of the locusts that remained in the valley at the
time of my first visit led me to believe that the plague was about at its
height, and I so reported at the time. Whether to have done so was
the wisest plan or not I can not say, for on the strength of that report
most of the inhabitants of the valley decided that there was no fur-
ther necessity for fighting the plague — a thing that they had not done
in the past nor x>robably had any idea of trying in the future. There
certainly were a number of diseased and parasitized hoppers in the
country, besides the entire region was overrun by young toads that
promised to be of value the following spring in devouring the young
locusts when they hatched. It will be seen by the following account
of the locusts in that region during the past spring and summer that
my conjectures were probably correct. Although apparently on the
decline in Idaho, this particular species of locust covers a much more
extended area of country than it has for a number of years.

2?

The winter of 18i)0-M)l. was milder than thai of <\ year before, and
less snow fell in the valleys and on the prairie, while just as much or
probably more fell in the mountains. Spring was slow in coming, and
when it came heavy rains set in with the result of flooding much of the
prairie. These rains continued through May, June, and pretty well
into July. The eggs left by the locusts the previous year began hatch-
ing in due time, and of course the little hoppers to feed. Simulta-
neously with their hatching and eating they began moving slowly to-
ward the lower end of the valley. Whether all of these were inspired
alike with the desire to forsake the region of their debut into tin- world
I do not know, but, judging from what little information on this point
that I was able to obtain, this desire seemed to be almost unanimous.
Be this as it may, perhaps a description of the general lay of the coun-
try will better explain what followed later in the season.

Camas Prairie is composed of the valleys of the Malade River and
its tributaries, which form a basin-like region lying back of the great
Snake River Plain and separated from it by a low range of volcanic
mountains. This basin averages about 10 to 12 miles in width and is
perhaps between 50 and 60 miles in length. The trend of the valley is
from west to east, and its lower end is about 1,200 feet lower than the
head. At Soldier, which is near the middle, the elevation above sea
level is about 5,300 feet. The Malade River, which is the main stream
of the prairie, runs along quite near its southern border, and most of
its tributaries enter from the north, where they have their sources
among the high mountains. Most of these streams flow in a south-
easterly direction across the prairie after leaving the mountains and
before entering the Malade.

As before stated, the young locusts, just as soon as they hatched,
began moving down the valley. Comiugto these different side streams
they were unable to cross and hence were obliged to stop. Soon their
increasing numbers from daily reinforcements devoured what vegeta-
tion there was at hand and they perished from starvation. So say
some of those with whom I talked about this feature of the subject
under treatment. Others claimed that the little 'hoppers were smit-
ten by disease and perished by the millions from that cause: but,
whether from starvation or on account of disease, myriads of them
died and were washed away by the waters of the swollen streams and
piled upon the banks in great heaps from which, as the heat of sum-
mer increased, a stench arose that was very disagreeable to say the
least, if not actually dangerous to the health of the inhabitants. Even
as late as the 10th of September remnants of these heaps of dead
locusts were visible along the banks of Soldier ('reek and the Malade
River. Notwithstanding the great numbers of these insects that per
ished during the early part of the season when the country was flooded
with water, there were still enough of them left to do more injury t<>
the grain and grasses than was done in the valley the year before. Some

28

of the ranchers lost all of their grain, while others threshed barely
as many bushels as they planted, and none harvested a full crop.

Just as soon as those insects which succeeded in pulling through the
wet spring obtained their wings they left for the hills — and there was
a host of them that did pull through — most of these passed off to the
eastward ; but others crossed the low range to the southward and south-
west, while a few lingered in the hills and mountains to the north of
the prairie. It was lucky, too, for many of the settlers, for the grasses
were thus allowed to grow somewhat afterwards for hay. Otherwise it
would have been impossible to obtain feed for their stock during the
coming winter.

It is hoped by the settlers of Camas Prairie that the greatest danger
from this pest has passed, and if the reports in reference to egg-laying
for the past summer can be depended upon, I am of the same opinion.
It is claimed that but few eggs were laid on the prairie proper, and not
many more amongst the surrounding hills and mountains. I must con-
fess that my search for the eggs of this insect while in the region was
not very successful; still, there might have been quantities of them in
districts not visited or examined. No one can more earnestly desire to
see this region free from the pest than I do, for my two visits to the
region have brought about a liking for the country, and I have also
made many friends among the inhabitants whom I wish to see prosper.
Aside from these personal feelings a desire for general welfare prompts
me to hope for a speedy relief from the plague. Eggs are known to
have been laid at three or four places upon the lower mountains to the
north of the prairie, and others in the hills south of the Malade. None
of these egg areas, so it is claimed, comprise more than a few acres each.

As would naturally be supposed, the presence of the pest in the same
region, for a succession of four or five years has resulted in the produc-
tion of several of its natural enemies in rather abnormal numbers.
These, of course, are doing much towards mitigating the evil, but as
yet they do not appear to have made much of an impression upon the
vast throng comprising this plague. Several natural enemies of this
locust were observed, such as the Locust Egg-mite (supposed to be the
same species that worked on the eggs of the Eocky Mountain Locust in
Minnesota and other sections of the temporary region), several of the
Tachinidce or Flesh Flies, three or four kinds of Bobber Flies (Asilidce),
some of the Ground-beetles (Cicindelidoe and Carabidw), a couple of
species of Blister -beetles (Meloidce), and one or more of the Wasps
(Crdbronidce). Besides these, during late summer and early fall, the
streams of the region were full of one or more species of hair worms
(Gordius), which most likely had been parasitic within the bodies of this
and various other locusts. If everything would continue thus favorable
for the increase of these natural enemies of the locust, they themselves
would eventually control it; but as their existence is also to a great
degree dependent upon certain climatic conditions, it is not a safe plan

I

2!J

to trust too implicitly in them. The settlers must themselves take a

hand in the fight if they would be sure of victory. As shrewd as are
most of the living things about us, man is shrewder still. Hence, if he
undertakes in earnest the task of outwitting any of these lower forms

of life, he is bound to succeed. True, there are often many difficulties,
apparent or real, to be overcome, but a little judicious planning in the
end brings success.

The habits, life-history, and haunts of the Pellucid-winged Locust
differ materially from those of the Rocky Mountain or True Migratory
one which has received so much of our attention during the past twenty
years, and which has finally been obliged to yield the ground to us on
account of the mode of warfare adopted. Still, the characteristics of
Ca ninula pellucida are essentially similar, and slight modifications in
the mode of warfare as used against the former insect will be success-
ful with the latter. The use of the "kerosene pans" or hopper-dozers
is quite practicable in most cases against the pest upon the valleys,
while plowing for the destruction of the eggs before hatching can be
resorted to in a number of instances, both upon rolling and level ground.
All this requires work. So does the destruction and keeping down of
noxious weeds.

While matters begin to look more hopeful with reference to the Pellucid
Locust, upon Camas Prairie at least, I am sorry to be obliged to report
that there seems to be a decided increase among several other species
of these insects now in the region. Of these latter there are the Lc -
Migratory Locust (Melanoplus atlanis), the Detestable Locust | M.fwdus ,
the Two-striped Locust (M. bivittatus), and Pezotettix enigma, for which
there is no common name. All four of these locusts were quite plenti-
ful at various points upon the prairie, and especially so in the vicinity
of the foot-hills on the north side. In certain localities they were suffi-
ciently numerous to materially injure the grasses and other natural
vegetation, and at a few points even did noticeable injury to cultivated
crops that had escaped the ravages of Camnula pellucida earlier in the
season. Of course the undue multiplication of these various other locusts
is caused by the same favoring conditions which allowed the pellucida to
develop in such overwhelming numbers. Whether or not. since most
of the swarm of that one has left the valley, these latter will be attacked
by the great numbers of enemies which its presence permitted to de-
velop and which it left behind, remains to be seen.

THE DESTRUCTIVE WESTERN CRICKETS.

While not exactly locusts, these large wingless insects which are
usually known by the name of Western Crickets need mention in this
connection. A number of years ago, during the days of geological sur-
vey expeditions, and when the first fieldwork of the United States En-
tomological Commission was being done, these insects were frequently
seen in immense droves moving over the country like so many sheep.

30

During more recent years, however, they have been less numerous, and
hence but little has been heard of them. The true home of one of these
insects is the great plains of the Snake Eiver, where sage brush reigns
supreme as the vegetable product of the country. Beyond this limi ted
region the insect is only occasionally met with in droves. Its distribu-
tion reaches over the Great Salt Lake Basin into northern Oregon, on
the Spokane Plateau of eastern Washington, into a few of the valleys
of western Montana, and at long intervals it is even met with in western
Wyoming. In addition to this species, which has been called Anabrm
simplex, there are quite a number of allied species, to be met with in the
same region as well as elsewhere. The most of them are, however, den-
izens of the arid and semi- arid regions of the West and Southwest, where
they either wander about singly or in pairs, feeding upon the scant
A^egetation. As a rule each species is confined to a rather limited area,
and prefers some special plant as its leading diet. As with all other
rules, there are exceptions to this one also. A few species of these
crickets have a very wide distribution and enjoy a greatly varied diet.
Some species are inhabitants of elevated mountain slopes and valleys,
while others occur far out on the grassy plains of Nebraska and Kansas.

As a group this subfamily DecticidinWj among the other Orthoptera,
has been greatly neglected in our country. But few of the forms have
thus far even been honored with a scientific name, to say nothing of
their life -histories, habits, enemies, etc., which are still to be learned.
Truly, they have thus far been a neglected lot !

The reason for my speaking of these crickets now is the reappearance
of two species of them during the past season in great numbers over
a considerable territory. Early in July it was known that a swarm
of Anabrus simplex was forming somewhere in the region between
Mountain Home and the Camas Prairie country, where they had
hatched earlier in the season from eggs laid last fall. After forming,
this main swarm of the insect started in a northeasterly direction,
crossing the divide and entering the prairie nearly south of the town
of Soldier. After entering the valley most of the insects kept right on
their course which they had apparently chosen, but many of them left
the main body and scattered over the whole region drained by the
Malade. Judging from the information obtainable, this must have
been a very large swarm indeed, for it was claimed that the insects
covered a tract nearly or quite 3 miles wide by 9 miles long. I first
met the insect in considerable numbers a couple of miles out from
Hailey, and found them more or less plentiful at various points along
the road for 20 miles. They were seen again a couple of days later in
the foothills north and west of Soldier, where a few of them were still
apparently depositing eggs. While engaged in this act the female
becomes so intent upon her work that she can be approached and
watched without being at all disturbed. The long strong ovipositor
is gradually worked into the hard earth by a series of backward and

31

forward sliding thrusts, with an occasional side movement. In this
manner the hole thus formed becomes a little elongate in form and
somewhat larger at the lower end than above, making as enlarged
cavity for the reception of the eggs, which arc irregularly arranged.
These eggs are somewhat curved, of dark brown color, of an average
size for the insect which lays them, being nearly one-third of an inch in
length and are somewhat flattened, but otherwise do not differ much in
form from those of an ordinary grasshopper, or Locust as they should Im-
properly called. They are not all laid at one time, but, judging from
dissections made of the female, 15 to 18 are laid in one cluster, other
deposits following at intervals of several days during the fall. Last
summer they began laying about the middle of July and continued
during the first week in September. It was not definitely settled as
to the arrangement and number of eggs laid in a single cavity, but the
figures given above can be taken as approximately correct.

A second, but much smaller, species of these crickets also occurred
in numbers near and among the foothills of the mountains adjoining the
prairie. This latter species is evidently the one described by Prof. ( Jy-
rus Thomas as Decticus triUneatus, though from its great variability in
coloration and markings it is quite difficult to decide this for a certain ty
without careful comparisons of a number of specimens with the descrip-
tion. Contrary to the clumsy movements of the large Anabrus simplex,
this smaller cricket is one of the most active insects in the region, and
to capture a specimen of it during the warmer part of the day requires
considerable dexterity on the part of the would-be captor. Its egg-
laying habits were not ascertained since it apparently had not yet be-
gun operations in this direction.

Some apprehension is felt by many of the inhabitants that this latter
insect will also become injurious, since it was noticed for the first time
the present year in such numbers as to cause alarm. I do not think
that such is liable to be the case, since it appears to be partial to damp
places covered with rank vegetation rather than to the more dry open
country. It occurred in the mountains at an altitude of 9,000 feet above
sea level or near timber line, as well as down in the valley below the
5,000 feet point.

The migratory habit in Anabrus simplex and several others of these
large, wingless, cricket-like insects is veiy marked at times; but much
more so when they are present in large numbers. As with many
other insects when they develop in excessive numbers, the desire to
move in great crowds seems to take hold of these crickets. At such
times they move towards central points and congregate into companies,
after which they strike out in a body in some particular direction.
When moving they are said to turn neither to the right nor to the Left,
but to keep on in a direct line1, climbing over obstacles rather than going
around, and even plunging into streams which happen to run across
their course of travel. When these streams are encountered, it" not too

32

large, they are soon filled to such an extent that the oncoming hordes
soon are enabled to cross over on the bodies of the unfortunate leaders
that reached the stream first. It has never been my fortune to see a
swarm of these insects crossing anything larger than a small irrigating
ditch, hence it is a difficult matter for me to accurately describe one of
these crossings. They are also said to be capable of being driven "just
like a drove of sheep" when they have stopped to feed; and at such
times are often " herded" off gardens and fields of grain.

LOCUST INJURIES IN OTHER REGIONS DURING THE SUMMER OF 1891.

Before closing this report it might be well to refer to such other locust
depredations occurring during the summer as have directly or indi-
rectly come to my notice. Of course, these were most of them quite
local and limited in their extent, and were occasioned by local non-mi-
gratory species. Taking them at random rather than in accordance with
their magnitude or importance they can be briefly stated as follows :

A region of considerable extent in southwestern Kansas was overrun
to some extent by the large yellow locust known as Melanophis differ -
entiaUs and several other species in fewer numbers. These mostly dam-
aged the alfalfa and materially lessened the hay crop of that region.
Professor Osborn, of the Iowa Agricultural College, who visited the
region by your request, has already given a full account of this out-
break in a paper read before the meeting of official Economic Ento-
mologists, held in Washington during the month of August. Hence, I
will merely refer to it here.

Farther south and west, in New Mexico and Arizona, locusts were re-
ported as being very numerous and moving eastward. It was claimed
in the reports that the damage being done here was chiefly to the
grasses on the range. Just what species ot 'hoppers were engaged in
these injuries, and how extensive they were, could not be learned at
the time. Possibly it may have been the Long- winged Locust which also
occurred in Colorado and did like injury there. At any rate the men-
tion of their " moving in droves while yet unfledged" would be quite
characteristic of the Dissosteira longipennis. Letters received from
Professor Townsend, of the New Mexico Agricultural College, quite re-
cently, throw a little light upon some of the locust injuries wrought in
that particular region during the year. He states that the Acrid Hum
shoshone and a species of Melanoplus have been numerous during the
past summer and were the cause of some slight injury to certain crops
and wild plants. The Acridium shoshone worked on the Mesquite and
other shurbs and trees, while the Melanoplus, which was probably the
differ entiaUs, attacked and slightly injured the vine.

Reports also reached us here in Nebraska that there were locust depre-
dations being committed in portions of Texas. These reports were
found in the columns of the daily newspapers. Just how extensive
and at what particular point these injuries occurred in that State I

33

have been unable to determine. A Government agent was sent out to
investigate this particular region, but, I believe, was unable to locate
it. It is quite possible that it was some very local injury caused by
the Melanoplus robustus, Dendrotettix longipennis, or Schistocerca ameri-
cana that gave a foundation upon which to build these reports, which
afterwards grew as they traveled. Or, it may be that this and other
reports of the presence of grasshoppers in destructive numbers which
agents afterwards failed to substantiate originated with newspaper cor-
respondents who did not wish to be outdone by coworkers in other
sections of the country who had reported bona fide swarms of these
insects.

Here in Nebraska there has been more or less injury from Melanoplus
differ entialis, M. bivittatus, and M. femur -rubrum during the summer;
but nothing serious has occurred, nor is there any indication of special
injury for next year. This injury during the present year has been con-
fined principally to cities and towns where poultry and wild birds do
not have access to old weedy gardens and vacant lots where the 'hop-
pers are allowed to deposit their eggs and hatch from year to year.
Hence the increase and subsequent injury.

While in attendance at the Washington meeting of the Association
of Economic Entomologists last August considerable interest was man-
ifested by those present in the locust question for the country at large
during the present season. In the discussion that followed the pre-
sentation of several papers bearing upon the subject, different entomol-
ogists reported the presence of larger numbers of these insects than
usual in Alabama, Mississippi, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Indiana, and
Iowa. Of course different species of these insects were the guilty ones
in different regions ; but for the most part differ •entialis, bivittatus, and
femur-rubrum were responsible for such injuries in these States, from
which we have no special reports.

These reports of locust injury, coming as they do from almost every
section of the country, tend to show that the insects of this group are
greatly on the increase, and that unless checked by natural causes,
or unless early efforts are made by the people interested to check
them, much greater injury must be expected in the near future. True.
this excessive increase in so many species and over so wide a scope
of country is due to some special cause or combination of such causes,
which may seldom or never occur again. Still there is no telling what
the future may hold in store. So the wisest plan, by far. as already
intimated, is to help ourselves wherever we can. In the present case
in particular it should be our aim to do this, since it has been demon-
strated time and again that these locusts can very readily be kept in
check by ordinary means.
19539— No. 21 3

EEPOET ON THE LOCUST INVASION OF CALIFOENIA IN

1891.

By D. W. Coquillett, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

Los Angeles, Cal., October 15, 1891.
I submit herewith a report of my investigations of the locust invasions of Cali-
fornia during the past season. These investigations were made principally during
the month of August, and conducted in accordance with your instructions of July
27, 1891.

Respectfully yours,

D. W. Coquillett.
Prof. C. V. Riley,

U. S. Entomologist.

According to directions I proceeded, on July 30, to that portion of
the Stato, invaded by the locusts, or grasshoppers, stated in the tele-
gram to extend from Merced on the south to Eedding on the north.
South of Merced County I did not learn that any great amount of
damage had been done by the locusts the present season. In portions
of Kern County I was informed that the locusts had attacked Apple
and other kinds of deciduous fruit trees, but a timely use of the bran
and arsenic mixture described in my report to you for the year 1885
(Eeport U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1885, p. 300) effectually
destroyed them.

Arriving at Merced I interviewed Mr. J. A. Norvell, the editor of the
Merced Express, and learned from him that but little damage had been
done in that locality by locusts the present season. He informed me of
a new colony that had been recently started near the foothills, where it
was reported the locusts had done considerable damage to the young
fruit trees. Accordingly I paid a visit to this colony, and found that
about 100 acres of deciduous fruit trees had been either partially or
completely defoliated by the locusts ; all of these trees had been set
out less than a year ago. The land on which these trees were growing
had been previously sown to wheat, and wheat fields were on every
side. Prune and pear trees had suffered the most from the ravages of
the locusts ; peach and fig trees were but little injured, while Eucalyptus

34

35

trees were untouched. It was reported to me thai the locusts had also
injured cabbages, tomatoes, and alfalfa. I noticed that tin- rank gp
growing in wet places adjacent to the defoliated ti . ao evidence

of having been attacked by the locusts, nor did I see any of them upon
it. In the trees I found a few specimens of adult- of the Devastating
Locust (Melanoplua devastator Scudd.), but did not find any of their
larvae or pups. I was informed that nothing had been done to destroy
the locusts or to protect the trees and plants from their rai cepl

by the use of barnyard fowls, or by occasionally driving the locusts out
of the trees and killing them with shovels or other instruments.

I also visited theBuhach plantation, where the locusts were so abun-
dant in the year 1885, but learned from the foreman, Mr. Davis, that
they had not appeared in large numbers the present season, and what
few had appeared were destroyed by the use of the bran and arsenic
mixture above referred to. A drive over this and neighboring ranches
failed to disclose any injury to trees or plants that had been occasioned
by locusts the present season.

From Merced I proceeded to Sacramento, and on the way, after cross-
ing the Merced River near Livingston, we encountered quite large flocks
of the Yellow Locust {Trimerotropis pseudofaseiata Scudd.); and this
continued, but in smaller numbers, until we reached the Tuolumne
Biver near Modesto. Xext to the Devastating Locust, this species was
the most abundant in Merced County in the summer of 1883, and was
especially injurious to the leaves of grapevines and small trees. In
the present locality are immense grain-fields stretching away as far as
the eye can reach, dotted here and there with a farmhouse surrounded
by a few trees and grapevines; still I could not discover that any of
these trees or vines had been injured by the locusts.

Arriving at Sacramento, I interviewed Mr. McClatchie, one of the
editors of the Sacramento Bee, and learned from him that the locusts
were very numerous in the eastern portion of Sacramento County.
Accordingly 1 went out to Folsom, where I spent three days investigat-
ing this subject. In the town of Folsom very little damage had been
done by the Locusts the present season: in fact, I saw only one orchard
that gave evidence of having been visited by them. To the northeasl
of Folsom are large vineyards and several orchards of deciduous fruit
trees, but none of these gave any evidence of having been attacked to
any great extent by locusts the present season, nor could I learn that
the locusts had been there in large numbers.

These vineyards and orchards are located in the foothills and are
surrounded on every side by trees and small bushes.

I went as far eastward as Shingle Springs, in Eldorado County, but
could not learn that t he locusts had been very numerous the present
season in any portion of this county. West of Folsom an- several hun-
dred acres of vineyard and orchards that had been attacked by the
locusts the present season; and in one of the vineyards I found the De-

36

vastating Locusts still present in immense numbers ; but very few vines
had been completely defoliated by them, and the green grapes were
almost untouched, although large patches of the green bark had been
gnawed from the vines by the locusts. The foreman of this vineyard
informed me that he had not used the bran and arsenic mixture for fear
of injuring the sale of the table grapes; but it seems to me that there
need be no fear on this account, since the sugar or molasses used in
making this mixture causes the arsenic to adhere to the bran, the wholt
forming a compact mass which is not easily blown about by the wind.
I noticed that the oak and pine trees growing in the immediate vicinity
of this vineyard had not been attacked to any great extent by the locusts,
and in a piece of weeds adjoining this vineyard on the west I found
very few adults and no young of the Devasting Locust. The weeds
along the sides of the roads in this vineyard had been burned off when
the young locusts were first noticed for the purpose of destroying those
that had hatched out in such places, but during my visit to the vine-
yard on the 3d of August I found several young of the Devasting Lo-
cust on the grape vines growing next to the roads, indicating that the
burning process had not been entirely effectual.

In the more central portion of this vineyard, away from the roads, I
did not find any of these young locusts, nor did I find in such places
any other kind than the Devastating Locust. I was informed that
these locusts came into the vineyard from all directions, while higher
up in the air could occasionally be seen swarms of locusts, presumably
of this same species, which were going westward.

Among deciduous fruit trees, cherry trees appear to have suffered
most from the attacks of the locusts, which had not only completely
defoliated them but had also eaten out the dormant buds. Pear trees
had also been completely defoliated, while apple, quince, apricot, prune,
and plum trees had shared a similar fate, but the green pears, quinces,
and prunes escaped uninjured. On the apricot trees large patches of
green bark had been gnawed away by the locusts, and the twigs thus
girdled nearly always died. Young peach trees had been defoliated
by the locusts, but the leaves of the older trees appeared to be dis-
tasteful to them, as it was very rare to see a peach tree over 6 feet
high that had been completely stripped. On such trees it was no
uncommon thing to find that every green peach had been eaten, noth-
ing but the bare pits being left, these sometimes still clinging to the
trees, but more often lying upon the ground beneath them. Orange
and walnut trees and English Holly were completely defoliated; pine
and cypress trees were slightly eaten. I saw several California palms
( Washingtonia filifera) that had been considerably eaten by the locusts.
Egyptian corn growing in the immediate vicinity of trees that had
been defoliated by the locusts escaped untouched, and this was also the
case with several mulberry trees, although it was reported that the
locusts fed upon the fruit of this tree. Fig trees also were but little

37

attacked by the locusts, although rarely in tin* case of young trees not
only the leaves but also the ends of the green branches were devoured
by thein. I saw a row of fig trees almost surrounding an orchard of
deciduous fruit trees, and while the latter had been nearly defoliated
by the locusts the fig trees were almost untouched. It was also re
ported to me that the locusts would not attack the figs upon the trees.

The above-mentioned orchard and vineyard were nearly surrounded
by wheat fields and pastures, while but a few miles east of them and
separated by a range of wooded hills is a number of small vineyards
and orchards that had not been touched by the locusts. These latter
vineyards and orchards were surrounded on all sides by woods. Thus
it appeared that orchards and vineyards located in the vicinity of grain
fields suffered more from the attack of the Devastating Locusts than did
those situated in the woods; and this observation was frequently veri-
fied during the remainder of my investigations into this subject. There
appears to be something about a grain field that is very attractive to
the locusts while they are on the wing high in the air; it may be the
bright glistening of the sun upon the yellow straw that attracts their
eyes. At one place in San Joaquin County the road had been covered
with straw for a distance of several hundred yards, and in driving over
this in the middle of the day I noticed that hundreds of the Devastating
Locust were resting upon the straw, but none, or only a very few were
to be found upon the bare ground near it. I was informed by several
persons who had witnessed the coming of these locusts that the large
swarms would always alight in a grain field, and from this point they
spread in all directions to the adjacent orchards and vineyards. My own
observations confirmed this fact, since in nearly every instance the trees
around the edges of an orchard had been injured to a greater extent by
the locusts than had those in the more central portion. In several in-
stances I saw small orchards which were located only a few yards from
the breeding grounds of the Devastating Locust, but separated from
them by trees and small bushes, and yet the trees in such orchards had
scarcely been attacked by the locusts, while orchards located 30 miles
distant, but surrounded by wheat fields, had been almost completely
defoliated by locusts which had evidently hatched out in the breeding
grounds referred to.

From Folsom I returned to Sacramento and interviewed Hon. Edw in
F. Smith, the Secretary of the California State Agricultural Society,
and from him I learned that the locusts were very numerous in certain
portions of San Joaquin County. I therefore proceeded at once to
Lodi, where I met Dr. E. Armstrong, a prominent orchardist of that
region, who gave me a great deal of information upon this subject, and
also showed me over that portion of San Joaquin County that had suf-
fered most from the attacks of the locusts. Here the conditions were
practically the same as I had found them existing in Sacramento
County. The orchards which had suffered most were surrounded by

38

wheat fields; the locusts were reported to have come into them from
all directions, while others high in air were moving to the westward.
Almond trees had been almost completely defoliated ; in many instances
the onter part of the nnts had been devoured, and more rarely the
hard shell of the three-fourths grown nnts had been eaten through and
the kernels devoured. A few large peach trees were scattered through
the almond orchard, but these had scarcely been attacked by the lo-
custs. Pear trees had been completely, and locust trees nearly, defoli-
ated by them.

I went as far eastward as Valley Springs, in Calaveras County, but
did not find any other locality where the locusts had been unusually
abundant and destructive the present season.

From Lodi I went to Marysville and interviewed Mr. Gr. W. Harney,
President of the Yuba County Board of Horticulture, and learned from
him that the locusts had been quite destructive to some young fruit trees
and grapevines in the southern part of that county. Accordiu gly, in com-
pany with Mr. Harney I visited the locality referred to, and found that
the trees and vines had been planted out less than a year ago; many of
them bore evidence of having been attacked, but only a very few of
them had been completely defoliated. Mr. Harney informed me that
when the locusts first began to appear in destructive numbers he had
several hundred circulars printed, giving directions for making and ap-
plying the bran and arsenic mixture above referred to, and these circulars
he distributed to nearly all of the fruit growers in the county; as a result,
this mixture was largely used in those localities where the locusts made
their appearance in destructive numbers, and proved very effectual in
destroying them. We visited portions of the county, distant about 15
miles from Marysville, but did not find any other locality that had suf-
fered from locust attacks.

The following day was spent in visiting various portions of Sutter
County, in company with Mr. E. C. Kells, the president, and Hon.
H. P. Stabler, the Secretary of the Sutter County Board of Horti-
culture; Mr. Cutts, a prominent business man of Marysville, and
owner of a large orchard in Sutter County, also accompanied us. We
visited a large portion of the northeastern part of this county, but
found only one locality where the locusts had appeared in destructive
numbers the present season. This was in an orchard of deciduous
fruit trees, several of which bore evidence of having been attacked,
although none of the trees had been completely defoliated. The owner
informed me that he had made use of the bran and arsenic mixture and
this had effectually destroyed the locusts before they had materially
injured his trees. The next day, in company with Mr. G. W. Harney,
I visited portions of Butte County, in the vicinity of Oroville. I did
not see any indication of locust attack in this city, nor could I learn
that the locusts had appeared there in destructive numbers the present
season. A few miles west of Oroville several small orchards had been

39

planted out less than a year ago, and a few acres of these trees had
been completely defoliated by the locusts. 1 learned that when the lat-
ter appeared upon the trees nothing whatever was done to stop then-
ravages. They had also apx>eared in large numbers upon the young
trees in the adjoining orchards, but had been destroyed by the bran and
arsenic mixture that had been put out when the locusts first made their
appearance. We also visited a certain locality about 8 miles south of
Oroville, where a large tract of land had recently been set out to fruit
trees; here but little damage had been occasioned by locusts.

From Oroville I went by stage to Biggs, in the southwestern part of
Butte County; the country passed through was mostly bare pasture
lands, where very few locusts of any kind were seen. From Biggs I
took the train to Bedding, in Shasta County, and interviewed several
persons there; from them I learned that locusts had not appeared in
large numbers in that locality the present year, nor could I learn that
they had been at all numerous in this State north of Bedding. I
learned, however, that several small orchards in the vicinity of Cotton-
wood, in the southern part of Shasta County, had suffered from the
attacks of locusts. Accordingly I returned to Cottonwood and spent
the greater portion of a day in that vicinity, and found that the injury
to the orchards occasioned by locusts was slight, there being but few
orchards in that locality and these very small ones. This completed
my observations in the field, and I returned to Los Angeles by way of
San Francisco. At the latter place I visited the Academy of Natural
Sciences and obtained the names of the birds and plants referred to in
the subsequent pages of this report.

As was the case in the year 1885, the species of locust that had pro-
duced the greatest amount of injury the present season is the Devas-
tating or California Locust (Melanojrtus devastator Scudd.). These
always have a small blunt spine in the middle of the breast between
the front legs, and the hind or under wings are wholly hyaline or glassy.
The colors vary to a considerable degree; in normally marked individ-
uals the ground color is dark gray, and there is a blackish stripe along
each side of the thorax, several black spots on the front wings, and a
series of black marks on the hind thighs, but in a few individuals the
ground color is a very pale yellowish, and the black markings above
referred to are very indistinct or are sometimes entirely wanting.
These pale individuals belonged to both sexes and are doubtless imma-
ture specimens, which later in the season will acquire the normal black
markings of the other and more mature form. I submitted specimens
of these pale colored individuals to Professor Riley, who wrote me that
they belonged to Melanoplus devastator, and he also referred the darkly
marked specimens to the same species. Both of these tonus have the
hind tibia', or shins, of a bluish color, but! found associated with them,
both in the breeding grounds and also among those that had migrated
to the orchards and vineyards, a form which resembled them in colors

40

and markings, except that the hind tibiae were of a light reddish color.
All the specimens that I captured of this red-legged form are females,
and Professor Eiley writes me that he is unable without the male to
decide to what species they belong. I strongly suspect that they sim-
ply constitute a color variety of Melanoplus devastator, since such varie-
ties are known to occur among several of the species of this genus
found east of the Eocky Mountains. These three forms, which, as
above stated, probably belong to one and the same species, were the
only spine-breasted locusts with long wings that I met with during my
investigations. I also found two or three species of spine-breasted
locusts with short wings, belonging to the genus Pezotettix; but these
were mostly found in the dry pastures, and only in limited numbers.

Among the spineless-breasted locusts, the species I met with the most
often is the Eed- winged Locust {(Edipoda venusta Stal.); this I found
in almost every locality visited, but never in large numbers. The next
most abundant species, and one of the largest found in this State, is the
Dissosteira spurcata of Scudder ; this is more local in its distribution
than the preceding species, and is usually found in dry pasture lands,
sometimes occurring in quite large numbers. The male of this species
is much darker colored than the female, and has a curious habit of hov-
ering in the air for several minutes at a distance of 16 or 18 inches above
the female.

The Pellucid-winged Locust (Camnula pellucida Scudd., of which
(Edipoda atrox Scudd. is a synonym), which was reported as being very
destructive during several successive years in the past in Sierra Valley,
lying partly in Sierra and partly in Pimas counties, in the very heart
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I met with at only one place; this
was on an open hillside in Calaveras County, August 8, but they were
not at all abundant, and I saw only about two dozen specimens in an
hour's search. I dissected several of the females, and the ovaries con-
tained nearly fully formed eggs. Several other species of spineless-
breasted locusts were also met with, but these were so few in number
that no further mention of them need be made at the present time.

BREEDING GROUNDS OF THE DEVASTATING LOCUST.

Up to the present time but little seems to be known concerning the
early stages of the Devastating Locust. I have not been able to find
any published notice stating that any observer had seen these locusts
paired, or had observed the females laying their eggs, or had found the
eggs of this species. During the present investigation I paid especial
attention to this part of the subject. Although repeatedly sought for,
I never found any of the young of this species in the more central portion
of cultivated orchards and vineyards, nor in grain fields that had been
plowed and. seeded less than a year previously. I also did not find
them in thickly wooded land where there was an abundance of small
trees and bushes, nor upon the tops or the steep sides of high hills,

41

nor yet in the low wet grass lands. In the San Joaquin and Sacra-
mento valleys and among the foothills bordering them on the east it
was only upon land on which grew a certain kind of weed that I found
the young of this locust. I submitted specimens of fliis weed to Mrs.
Dr. Brandegee, the Botanist of the California Academy of Sciences
and our best authority upon the plants of central and northern Cali-
fornia, and slie identified it as the Hemitonia virgata, vulgarly known
as "tarweed," from the sticky exudations which cover the entire
plant. It seldom attains a greater height than 2 feet, the stem is slen-
der, and sometimes bears several small lateral branches, the leaves are
small, narrow, and dark green, and the greater portion of the stem is
of a whitish, somewhat silvery color. It bears at the tips of its branches
yellowish composite flowers, which seldom exceed half an inch in diame-
ter j the leaves on the upper portion do not exceed a quarter of an inch
in length. *The plant is said by Dr. Asa Gray to be either an annual or
a biennial.

In the eastern portion of San Joaquin and Sacramento counties and
also in portions of Calaveras and Eldorado counties that I visited, it
was rare to find a patch of these weeds in which the young of the Dev-
astating Locust were not present in greater or less numbers ; at the
same time it was extremely rare to find the young of these locusts in
places where none of these weeds grew. I found both these weeds
and the young locusts along the sides of the roads, and also upon un-
plowed land about the orchards and vineyards. They were also some-
times present in fields of volunteer or self-sown grain that had not been
plowed for over a year, but were most abundant in the pasture lands
among the foothills. Here they usually occurred in the narrow valleys
or depressions lying between the hills, sometimes extending some dis-
tance up the sides of the hills, but never high up on the sides of very
steep hills, nor on the tops of hills, nor yet among the thick underbrush
wherever this might occur. Among the foothills of Calaveras County,
in the neighborhood of the town of Bur son, I found a field of these weeds
covering 60 or 80 acres of land, and among the weeds were both adults
and young of the Devastating Locust in large numbers. I was informed
by a party living in the neighborhood of this field that the young locusts
had been extremely abundant there early in the season, and that in the
month of May he saw a large swarm of the winged locusts take flight
and disappear to the westward ; it was reported to me that about this
time the locusts were first observed to come into the orchards in cer-
tain portions of San Joaquin County, lying in the same direction that
the swarm was said to have taken; so it appears quite certain that t he
large swarms of locusts that swept down upon the above-named county
the present season hatched out in this and neighboring fields of tarweeds.

I dissected a large number of the adult females of the Devastating
Locust which I found in this field and examined the ovaries, but in
none of them did I find any eggs in an advanced stage of development,

42

nor did I see any of these locusts paired, nor were any engaged in lay-
ing their eggs. On the 10th of August, accompanied by Mr. F. Y. M.
Hudson, of Acampo, and one of his hired men, I spent the greater por-
tion of the day in searching for the eggs of this locust in the above-
mentioned and neighboring fields of tarweeds, but did not succeed in
obtaining any. This fact, coupled with the farther fact that while
studying this and other species of locusts in Merced County in the
year 1885 I neither saw the Devastating Locusts paired nor did I ob-
serve them laying their eggs during all the time that I observed them,
extending from the first week in June to the first week in August, and
that I did not witness either of these operations during the present in-
vestigation which extended over the first three weeks in August, makes
it almost certain that this species is single brooded and that the eggs
are laid some time during the fall of the year, probably not before the
month of October. All the testimony goes to prove that these locusts
hatch out very early in the spring. Several intelligent observers in-
formed me that they had seen the young locusts in immense numbers
early in April and that these began to acquire wings early in May.
The following from the Folsom Weekly Telegraph of May 9, 1891, in-
dicates how early in the year these locusts appeared in that locality the
present season :

GRASSHOPPERS COMING.

Grasshoppers have appeared in the vicinity of this place. They seemed to come
suddenly and from where no one knows. Millions of them are destroying everything
they can get hold of, and considerable alarm is felt over their appearance and the
result of their visit. They came too late to do any great amount of damage to the
hay crop, which is nearly all in. Other things will surely suifer unless they disap-
pear. Those that are here are, from what we can learn, very small, hut they are
voracious and have done a great deal of damage already. A few years ago they vis-
ited the State and caused great damage. There was no way to combat them. We
hope the alarming reports regarding them are exaggerated.

The editor of the " Telegraph" informed me that he sent the above as
a telegram to the Sacramento Bee on the 5th of May, which would put
the coming of the locusts at a somewhat earlier date than the one given
above.

Hatching out so early in the season and acquiring wings as early as
the month of May, it appears somewhat singular that these locusts
should not become fully matured and deposit their eggs until nearly six
months later in the season. The fact, however, that among the migrat-
ing swarms I found very pale-colored specimens that had not yet
become sufficiently mature to attain their normal dark coloring as
late as the middle of August, indicates that the species is very slow in
maturing even after acquiring wings. The destructive Rocky Moun-
tain Locust (Melanoplus spretus Uhler), which has as yet never been
found in this State, is known to be single brooded in its permanent
breeding grounds.

43

In Los Angeles County, on the 20tb of September of the present
year, I saw a pair of Devastating Locusts united in coition: tin's was
the only pair I saw in a five-hours' search in a locality where these
locusts were quite abundant. I find by reference to my note book that
on the 1st of October, 1888, I also saw a pair of locusts belonging to a
closely related, but apparently unnamed species united in coition.

On page 21 of Insect Life, Vol. iv, Mr. Lawrence Bruner, one of the
agents of this Division, in referring to the Devastating Locust, says:
"This species also occurs in two forms, viz, small and large, being the
spring and fall broods, as nearly as I have been able to decide from
specimens in collections." This supposition, however, is not borne out
by the facts, since in the month of August of the present year I col-
lected both large and small specimens of this species in Sacramento
County; the smallest specimens measured only 16 millimeters (about
three- fifths of an inch) from front of head to tip of abdomen, while the
larger specimens, which were captured in the same locality as the smaller
ones, measured 25 millimeters (equal to 1 inch) in length. Specimens
representing both sizes, as well as others of every intermediate grade,
were submitted to Professor Eiley, who referred all of them to the
above species, so there can be no doubt of ther proper identification.

All the facts therefore seem to indicate that the Devastating Locust
is normally single-brooded, and that the eggs are laid in the fall of the
year.

Although I saw both the adults and the young of the Devastating
Locusts feeding upon the tarweeds in the large field near Burson, re-
ferred to above, still they had not comixletely devoured these weeds,
which were still green and growing. Immediately adjoining this field
on the west was about half an acre of plants of HosacMa glabra that
had been completely defoliated, j)resumably by these locusts ; I did not
find any young of the Devastating Locust among these defoliated plants.
These were the only wild plants I saw that there was reason to believe
had been completely defoliated by these locusts.

North of Sacramento I did not again meet with this tar weed; but in
Yuba, Butte, and Tehama counties it is replaced by a viscid, glandular
plant, which Mrs. Brandegee identified as Layhi glandulosa. This is a
low growing, loosely branched annual, which never exceeds a foot in
height; the leaves are narrow, and the composite flowers are white,
with a dark yellow center; the entire plant bears numerous short, stiff
hairs.

I found this plant growing on the sides of low hills or on the high
mesa land, and when found in large numbers it was nearly always ac-
companied by the young as well as by the adults of the Devastating
Locust; and in the above-named region 1 did not find any of the young
of this locust except in places where this weed grew.

One of the most common weeds 1 met with growing in the dry pas-
ture lands and in the open foothill region in the eastern part of the San

44

Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, extending from Tehama County on
the north to Merced County on the south, is a low- growing', much-
branched, pubescent, whitish plant, which Mrs. Brandegee informs me
is Eremocarpns setigerus, sometimes known as u turkey-feed," owing to
the fact that the turkeys are very fond of it. This plant was present
in almost every locality that I visited, but I did not see any of the De-
vastating Locusts feeding upon it, nor were the young of this locust
ever found upon these plants, nor among them except when the latter
grew in the vicinity of one or the other of the two plants referred to
above. The " turkey-feed " plants evidently had no attraction for these
locusts, which appear to prefer plants of a viscid or sticky nature.

Of course it is possible that, in certain localities which I did not visit,
the Devastating Locust may breed among other kinds of weeds than the
two referred to above, but the fact that I found the young of this locust
in almost every patch of these weeds of any considerable size, taken in
connection with the other fact that I very seldom found the young
locusts except in places where these weeds grew, makes it almost cer-
tain that this locust chooses patches of these weeds in which to breed.

CAUSE OF THE LOCUST RAVAGES.

The region of country in this State that suffered most from the rav-
ages of the Devastating Locust the present season is comprised in the
three counties of Placer, Sacramento, and San Joaquin. In certain
portions of these counties it was reported by several observers that the
locusts came from the eastward in large swarms, not all at once, but in
two or three separate swarms at intervals of about two weeks apart.
From what has already been written it is almost certain that these
large swarms hatched out in the open pasture lands among the foot-
hills in the eastern part of Sacramento County, and also in the western
portion ot Eldorado, Amador, and Calaveras counties, in places over-
grown with tarweeds.

The fact that these locusts do not appear in destructive numbers
every season has led some persons to believe that these insects — like
the misnamed Seventeen -year Locust of the East (Cicada septendecim
Linn.) — pass several years in the larva state, but of course such is not
at all the case; and if the facts were known it would evidently be found
that these locusts migrate to the orchards and vineyards every year,
but not always in sufficient numbers to attract attention. It appears
to be a settled fact, however, that the years in which they have been
present in destructive numbers in the region designated above were in
seasons when there had been little or no late rains in the spring and
when there had been heavy and long continued rains the previous
spring. In other words, it appears that there must be a spring of long-
continued and late rains, followed by one in which very little rain falls,
in order to produce an unusual number of the locusts. These condi-
tions existed in the years 1884 and 1885, and again in 1890 and 1891,

45

and we find that the locusts were unusually abundant and destructive
in the year 1885 and again in 1891.

To give any rational explanation of this phenomenon would require
a greater knowledge of the habits and early stages of this insect than
we at present possess. It may be conjectured, however, that the long-
continued and late rains retard the hatching of the young locusts, and
at the same time produce such an abundance of vegetation that tin-
greater number of the locusts would remain upon the breeding grounds
the entire season and would deposit their eggs in these grounds late in
the fall,- thus a much greater number of eggs would be deposited in the
breeding grounds than would have been the case had the season been
dry and the majority of the locusts migrated from the breeding grounds
before their eggs had been deposited. The following season being a
dry one there would not be abundance of vegetation, and the eggs in
the breeding grounds would naturally hatch out very early in the
spring, and the immense numbers of locusts produced would soon re-
duce the scanty vegetation to such an extent that they would be very
anxious to migrate to new fields as soon as they had acquired wings.
And this would account for the immense swarms that occasionally ap-
pear in this region, and would also account for the fact of their not
occurring every season.

While these locusts have been observed to migrate in swarms from
their breeding grounds, no person has ever seen them returning to these
grounds again, and it seems very probable that they never do so. The
eggs of these migrating swarms are doubtless deposited in cultivated
lands, and the subsequent plowing and harrowing of these lands evi-
dently destroys the eggs. Thus the species must depend for its con-
tinued existence upon the comparatively few individuals that remain
upon the breeding grounds throughout the season, or at least until
the egg-laying season has passed by.

Several different persons living in the locust-infested district stated
to me that the earlier-migrating swarms of Devastating Locusts had
deposited their eggs in the cultivated fields and orchards, and that they
had seen the young of these locusts in the above-mentioned places.
Questioned closely, they all admitted that they had not seen the locusts
in the act of depositing their eggs, nor could they refer me to a single
person avIio had seen them thus engaged; but the fact that they had
found what they believed were the young of these locusts in the local-
ities mentioned, led them to believe that the earlier broods had depos-
ited their eggs in such situations. I took especial pains to investigate
each of these reports, but found that in not a single instance did tin'
young locusts observed belong to the destructive migrating species.
In the majority of cases they belong to fche young of the spineless-
breasted locusts, but in one instance the adults of one of the short-
winged locusts, the Pezotctti.v enigma Scudd, were mistaken tor the
young of the Devastating Locusts; these short-winged locusts have a

46

spine in the middle of their breast, between the legs composing the front
pair, in this respect resembling the yonng of the Devastating LocUst j
and although fully developed their wings do not cover the basal half of the
hind body or abdomen, thns giving them the false appearance of being
yonng locusts. From the yonng of the Devastating Locnst they can
at once be distinguished by never possessing the conspicuous whitish
spot found near the base of the wings; and if the wings are more at-
tentively examined it will be found that in the short- winged Pezotettioc
the nerves of the lower half of each wing extend nearly parallel with
the lower margin of the wing, whereas in the young of the Devastating
Locust the veins run in an oblique direction to the lower edge of the
wings. These characters will enable the most casual observer to dis-
tinguish the young of the Devastating Locust from any of the short-
winged locusts known to me to occur in this State.

NATURAL ENEMIES.

During my visits to those portions of the State that had suffered
most from the attacks of the locusts, I was struck with the almost en-
tire absence of insectivorous birds and insects. Of course every col-
lector of insects in this State is aware of the fact that in the month of
August insect life is less abundant in the valleys than it is at almost
any other season of the year, and this may also account for the scar-
city of insectivorous birds in the valleys during this time of year.

Probably the bird that renders the greatest benefit to our horticul-
turists in the way of destroying locusts is the Arkansas Kingbird (Ty-
rannus verticalis Say), also known as the Arkansas Fly-catcher, and lo-
cally as the Bee-bird from its reputed habit of occasionally feeding upon
Honey Bees. Near the town of Clements, in San Joaquin County, I saw
a pair of these birds perched in a tall cottonwood tree that grew along
the edge of the Mokelumne River. This tree stood some distance from
the banks of the river proper, and just back of it, and still farther from
the river rose a high bluff, the sides of which were almost perpendicu-
lar. At certain intervals the Devastating Locusts would rise from the
ground along the bank of the river and proceed to fly over these bluffs,
but when nearly opposite the tree upon which the Kingbirds were
perched, one of these birds would dart forward, seize the locust, and
return to the tree again to devour its victim. During the few mo-
ments that I watched this pair they captured quite a large number of
the locusts, always returning to the same tree to feed upon them. In
the American Naturalist for August, 1869, Mr. Eobert Ridgway, the
well-known ornithologist, makes the statement that a specimen of this
Kingbird, which he kept in a cage, devoured 120 locusts in a single
day. Were these birds at all numerous, it is evident that they would
destroy immense numbers of the locusts in the course of a single sea-
son; but, unfortunately, they were only occasionally seen in any of the
localities that I visited.

47

Another bird that also preys upon locusts ie the California Shrike
[Lanius htdoricianus gambeli Ridg.), locally known as Butcher-bifdj
from its habit ol impaling insects, small birds, lizards, etc., on almost
any sharp-pointed, thorn-like object within its reach. Ar several dif-
ferent places I saw one of these birds fly to the ground, seize a
locust, and return to its former perch to feed niton its victim; but fre-
quently it would impale the locust upon some sharp-pointed object and
leave it there to die. The sharp barbs of a barbed wire fence were
frequently used by these birds for impaling the locusts upon, and in
driving along one of these fences it was no uncommon sight to see at
short intervals one of the locusts thus impaled. Unlike the Arkansas
Kingbird, which invariably captures the locusts while upon the wing,
this Shrike appears to attack them only upon the ground. Its habit of
impaling them upon sharp-pointed objects would allow of its destroying
an almost unlimited number of locusts in a day. Unfortunately, this
bird is not abundant in any portion of the locust-infested region.

These two were the only birds that I saw capture and feed upon
locusts, but Mr. Walter E. Bryant, the Ornithologist of the California
Academy of Sciences, to whom I am indebted for the names of these
birds, informs me that he has found locusts in the stomachs of the
following California birds: Great Horned Owl {Bubo virginianus
Gmelin); Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicvlaria hypogcea Bonap.); Spar-
row Hawk (Falco sparverius Linn.); Boad-runner (Geococcyx californi-
anus Lesson) ; and Western Lark Finch (Cho7idestes grammacus strigatus
Swain son).

While investigating the locust plague in Merced County for the De-
partment in the year 1885, 1 saw three other birds feeding upon locusts;
these were: Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii Swainson); California
Song-sparrow (Melospiza fasciata samnelis Baird), and another undeter-
mined species somewhat larger than the latter, and having a conspicu-
ous patch of red feathers on the crown of the head.

The Burrowing Owl was quite frequently seen, occurring in and about
the burrows of the California Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus grammuru*
beecheyi Richardson). These, however, were most abundant in the dry.
level plains, where but few locusts occurred. The other birds mentioned
above were occasionally met with, but were not at all numerous in the
locust-infested regions.

Of the smaller animals, I have seen the Western Fence-lizard Seel-
oporus occiflentalis ViiiiTd-Givai'd) catch and devour locusts. This lizard
is commonly known by the name of Swift. This and allied species are
quite commonly found all over the locust-infested regions and doubtless
destroy a large number of the locusts.

Among predaceous insects, the species which probably destroys the
greater number of locusts, and the one most frequently met with, is a
medium-sized, wholly black wasp known as Priononyx atrata St. Farg,
This wasp digs its burrow in the earth, usually in loose sandy soil, and

48

provisions it with locusts which she catches while on the wing and stu-
pefies them by repeatedly thrusting her sting into their bodies, the point
selected for thus stinging them being in nearly every instance the under-
side of the thorax between the first two pairs of legs. After being stung
a few times the locust becomes motionless, and the wasp gets astride
of her victim, seizes it by the antennae, and drags it to her burrow,
occasionally leaving it and going off in search of her burrow; after find-
ing it she again returns to the locust and drags it along by the antennae
as before. After it is safely landed in the bottom of the burrow, the
wasp deposits one or more eggs upon it, then comes to the mouth of
the burrow and with her fore feet scratches the burrow fuli of earth,
somewhat as a dog would do. AH of her movements are very rapid, and
it is very rare to find her idle, being almost the whole time, at least
during the warmer portion of the day, engaged in searching for or drag-
ging along and burying the locusts. I frequently saw one of these
wasps thus dragging along a locust, and although other species of
locusts were present she always selected a Devastating Locust for her
victim.

I also saw another kind of wasp, known as Polistes variatus Cresson,
feeding upon a recently killed Devastating Locust, while several other
specimens of the same kind of wasp were busily looking among the
weeds, as if in search of locusts. This wasp is of about the same size
as the Priononyx, referred to above, but is of a light- brown color, vari-
ously marked with pale yellow. I have occasionally found the nest of
this wasp beneath pieces of wood lying upon the ground. The nest is
constructed of a bluish gray, papery substance, is of a circular form, and
measures about 2 inches in diameter. It is suspended by a rather slen-
der pedicel of the same papery substance, and the cells are on the un-
derside and open downwards; they are filled with a yellowish mass,
which probably consists of the masticated bodies of the locusts.

Besides these two species, I have seen a third kind of wasp, the
Tachytes rufofasciata Cr., dragging along an apparently lifeless locust,
which she evidently intended to bury, to serve as food for her young,
just as the Priononyx described above was observed to do. This wasp
is considerably smaller than the Priononyx, and has the abdomen and
a large portion of the legs pale brown.

Besides these wasps, the only other kind of predaceous insect that I
saw feeding upon locusts is a large slender-bodied, two-winged fly,
known as Proctacanthus milbertii Macq. This fly is of a brownish gray
or drab color, and the largest specimens measure nearly 1£ inches in
length; the legs are stout and covered with spines; the stout, black
proboscis projects forward from the lower portion of the head, and the
latter on the sides and lower part in front is thickly clothed with rather
long whitish hairs. Biding along by the side of a barbed- wire fence in
Tehama County, on the 15th of August, I saw a great many of these
flies resting upon the upper side of the top wire, while an occasional

49

one was seen hanging from the under side of the wire, to which it was
clinging- by the aid of its strong claws, while between its body and the
wire, and firmly held in its embrace, was an adult locust, into whose
body the proboscis of the fly was inserted. The fly was not particular
as to the kind of locust it captured, sometimes catching and feeding
upon the Devastating Locust, at other times attacking an undeter-
mined species of spineless-breasted locust. When not feeding, these
flies were very shy, taking wing whenever approached at all closely,
but when engaged in feeding I had no difficulty in capturing them in
my hand. On the same day above mentioned I saw several of these flies
paired, but I know nothing in regard to their early stages. Professor
Eiley has recorded the fact that the larvse of an allied species, the Eraat
hastardi Macq., feed upon the eggs of locusts, and it is very probable
that the larvae of the present species has the same commendable habit.

Of internal parasites I know of only one species that attacks locusts ;
this is a grayish black, two-winged fly which closely resembles the
common House Fly but belongs to a different family, the Sarcophagidae,
and to the typical genus Sarcophaga; the thorax is marked with three
blackish, longitudinal lines, and the abdomen is marmorate with darker
spots which are changeable in different lights. I first met with speci-
mens of this fly on the 15th of August in Tehama County; the locality
was a small tract of land covered with low-growing weeds, among which
were quite a large number of locusts of different kinds. The flies were
resting upon dead weeds, stones, etc., and whenever a locust of any
kind took to its wings one of these flies would dart after, and appear to
strike it, but this was evidently the method in which the fly attaches
her eggs to the bodies of the locusts. When thus struck by one of the
flies the locust in nearly every instance would at once close up its wings
and fall to the ground, as if aware of danger. I did not succeed in
breeding the perfect flies from these locusts, but among a large number
of insects sent me for names by Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn, of Mountain View,
was a single specimen of the same kind of fly which he informed me was
received with several others from a Placer County correspondent; the
locust which he pointed out to me as being the one from which this fly
was bred belongs to the destructive California species. Melanoplus devas-
tator Scudd. While at Marysville, Mr. G. W. Harney, the President of
the Yuba County Board of Horticulture, showed me a Dipterous pupa
which he had bred from one of our largest spineless-breasted locusts,
Dissostcira spurcata Stal. ; but as the fly never issued from this pupa
the species to which the latter belongs can not be ascertained, although
it is very probable that it belongs to the same species referred to above.

In Merced County, in the summer of 1885, 1 collected quite a large
number of specimens of this same kind of locust, inclosing them in a
bottle containing potassium cyanide, and from one of these issued a
Dipterous larva, which, however, was not observed until it had been
killed by the fumes of the cyanide, so that the species to which it
belonged could not be ascertained.
19539— No. 27 i

50

These Dipterous parasites appear to be extremely rare, In every
locality visited I dissected large numbers of locusts belonging to various
species, but did not find any of them to contain a trace of these para-
sites. I also brought a large number of the locusts home with me, but
up to the present date no parasites have issued from them.

Quite a large number of locusts were infested with small red mites,
presumably Trombidium locustarum Riley, but these did not occur in
numbers sufficient to prove fatal to the locusts they infested.

On page 263 of the Second Eeport of the United States Entomological
Commission, Professor Riley records having bred two different kinds of
Bee-flies from larvae found feeding upon the eggs of locusts in Sierra
Valley, California, the two species being Aphoebantus mus O. S. (of
which Triodites mus is a synonym) and Systcechus oreus O. S. ; but,
although I was especially on the lookout for specimens of these two
species, I saw only a single specimen of the Aphoebantus. This was
in Tehama County, and the specimen was resting upon the doorstep
of a dwelling house. During the entire three weeks that I spent
in investigating the locusts, the greater part of this time having
been spent in the fields, I did not see another specimen of this species,
nor of any other species belonging to this or to closely related genera.
The Bee-flies that I saw belong to the genera Toxophora, Geron, An-
thrax, Argyramceba, and Exoprosopa, none of which in the larva state
are known to feed upon the eggs of locusts nor to attack the locusts
themselves. Here in southern California I have collected specimens
belonging to twenty-two different species of Aphoebantus, several of
which occur in quite large numbers j and it is evidently largely due to
the presence of these insects that the locusts so seldom occur in
destructive numbers in this part of the State.

In the first report of the United States Entomological Commission,
pages 297 to 301, Professor Riley gives an extended account of the
early stages of three different species of Blister-beetles, the larvae of
which he found feeding upon the eggs of various kinds of locusts in the
region of country lying east of the Rocky Mountains. These beetles
belong to two genera, Macrobasis and Epicauta, but neither of the three
species referred to are found in California. So far as I am aware the
genus Macrobasis is not represented in this State, but of Epicauta and
related genera my collection contains representatives of nearly two
dozen species found in this State, but principally in the southern por.
tion of it. During my recent investigating trip I met with only one
kind of Blister-beetle, the Epicauta puncticollis Mann., a slender, wholly
black species, which, however, was not abundant in any of the locali-
ties visited. They were most abundant in the neighborhood of Oroville,
in Butte County, where I found them feeding upon a low-growing
weed, Layia glandulosa, already referred to in the chapter treating upon
the breeding grounds of the locusts. Since the Devastating Locusts had
bred in the same locality, as was evidenced by my finding the young of

51

these locusts among the w«M-ds also infested by the Blister-beetles, it is
very probable that the latter while in the larva state bad fed upon tin-
eggs of the locusts. This supposition appears to be rendered all the
more probable by the farther fact thai in the immediate vicinity of these

beetles the locusts did not occur in large numbers, nor had the orchards
and vineyards in this locality been seriously injured by them. The
fact recorded above that the larvae of other species of Blister-beetles
belonging to the same genus are known to feed upon the e^^s of locusts
renders it almost certain that the present species while in the larva
state also feeds upon the eggs of these insects, and would, if sufficiently
plentiful, keep the locusts so reduced in numbers that it would be im-
possible for them to become numerous enough to occasion any wide-
spread injury to cultivated trees and plants. Unfortunately there ap-
pears to be no method whereby we can secure the more rapid propaga-
tion of these and the other natural enemies of the locusts, and our
only recourse therefore is to subdue these pests by artificial means.

REMEDIES.

I have already stated the fact that when the locusts appeared in or-
dinary numbers they were effectually destroyed by the use of the bran
and arsenic mixture, composed of the following ingredients in the pro-
portions here given :

Pounds.

Bran 100

Arsenic 16

Sugar 16

Water sufficient to thoroughly wet the mixture.

The bran is placed in any convenient receptacle, and the arsenic
added to it dry; the two are then thoroughly mixed together with a
shovel, spade, or other instrument. The sugar is then dissolved in cold
water and afterwards added to the bran and arsenic mixture and the
whole thoroughly stirred; if this is not sufficient to wet the mixture,
enough cold water should be added to accomplish this, and after being
thoroughly stirred, the mixture is ready for use. In applying it. some
persons sow it broadcast by hand in the orchards and vineyards, while
others simply drop about a teaspoonful of the mixture at the base of
each vine or tree. By the latter method about 10 pounds of the bran
and If pounds each of sugar and arsenic will be required tor each acre
of grapevines. The cost of the materials and of t lie labor in preparing
and applying this mixture will not much exceed 50 cents per acre of
grapevines, while in the orchards the cost will be much lower than
this.

The addition of the sugar is simply tor the purpose of causing the
arsenic to adhere to the particles of bran, and not for the purpose of
rendering the mixture more attractive to the locusts, since 1 ascertained

52

by experiments that the bran is much more attractive to the locusts
than sugar is. Some persons informed me that they had used molasses
in place of the sugar, aud with equally good results. A few had added
a quantity of glycerin to the mixture in order to prevent it from dry-
ing out and forming a solid mass that the locusts can not readily feed
upon, but it is doubtful if this is any great improvement over the ordi-
nary Avay.

I met several persons who reported that they had not obtained sat-
isfactory results by the use of this mixture, but I learned from them
that they had used only 2 pounds of arsenic to 100 pounds of bran;
this, of course, would make a very weak mixture, containing only one-
eighth as much arsenic as it should have contained, and therefore it is
not to be wondered at that it did not produce the same results as the
stronger mixture would have done. The arsenic in this mixture is very
slow in its actions upon the locusts. I have seen locusts feeding upon
it quite early in the morning, and these were still alive in the evening,
but died during the night.

There has been some objection made to the use of this mixture on ac-
count of the danger attending its use, but with only ordinary precautions
no danger need be apprehended from it. Although it has been quite
extensively used in various parts of this State during the last six years,
still 1 have not learned of a single instance where human beings or
domestic animals of any kind have been poisoned by it. It is advisable
to prepare the mixture in a closed room in order to prevent the arsenic
from being blown about by the wind, but after the mixture has once
been thoroughly saturated with water there is no danger of its being
blown about, nor is there any great danger of its being carried about
upon the feet of birds or insects. Of course it shoidd never be placed
within the reach of poultry or of domestic animals of any kind ; these,
however, are seldom allowed to run in the orchards or vineyards, so
that little or no additional trouble would result from the use of the
poisoned mixture in such places.

Several persons informed me that they had srjrayed their trees with
Paris green and water at the rate of 1 pound of this poison to about 200
gallons of water, but this did not deter the locusts from feeding upon
the leaves of the trees thus sprayed; nor could it be discovered that
any of the locusts had been destroyed by feeding upon the poisoned
leaves. This is scarcely to be wondered at, since it would not be possi-
ble in this manner to cause a sufficient quantity of the poison to adhere
to the leaves without at the same time severely injuring the latter. A
far better plan is to use the bran and arsenic mixture described above,
as there is no danger of injuring the trees by its use.

I was also informed that trees had been sprayed with various sub-
stances to deter the locusts from feeding upon them, but all that I con-
versed with upon this subject reported unsatisfactory results. The fol-
lowing from the Folsom Weekly Telegraph of August 1, 1891, would

53

seem to indicate that at least one person had obtained good results in
this direction :

A WAY TO FIGHT GRASSIIOPPERS.

Editor Telegraph: While on business at Capt. Russell's ranch, about 5 miles
northeast of this place, in Placer County, I found his fine orchard and vineyard all
safe from the ravages of the grasshopper pests, although they have played sad havoc
with other orchards near by. Upon inquiry of the Captain I was informed that he
had used a remedy that did not suit the tastes of the hoppers, and therefore they
chose other localities in which to locate. He used the following preparation : One
pound of aloes to 5 gallons of water. Dissolve well in warm water and then spray
with a fine spray pump. A simple taste of this liquid seems to discourage the opera-
tor and he moves to other quarters. Capt. Russell thinks that his discovery is good
when well applied. I give this information for what it is worth, and hope some
good may be derived from it. The condition of Capt. Russell's orchard justifies the
confidence he expresses in the remedy mentioned.

G. S. Tong.

Folsom, Cal., July 28, 1891.

The fact that the locusts feed upon such a great variety of trees and
plants, including such offensive ones as tarweeds and Conifers, which
most other leaf- eating insects pass by, would seem to indicate that it
would be extremely difficult to find a substance so disagreeable and
offensive to the locusts that they would not feed upon the leaves of
plants sprinkled with it. It is possible that blood obtained from the
slaughterhouses might answer this purpose, since it has been found
that rabbits will not feed upon the bark of trees on which blood had
been rubbed.

Quite a number of persons employed turkeys for the purpose of free-
ing their orchards and vineyards of the locusts, and I learn from one
of the members of a certain firm in San Joaquin County that they em-
ployed a flock of 766 turkeys in their orchard, which contains about
800 acres of fruit trees of various kinds. One turkey will destroy an
almost incredible number of locusts in a single day, and a flock of the
size of the one above described must necessarily destroy large numbers
of the pests in the course of an entire season. I was informed of sev-
eral instances where turkeys had eaten too freely of the locusts, having
partaken of them to such an extent as to result in the death of the tur-
keys, but it was asserted that this never happened if the turkeys had
been fed grain before being turned into the orchard in the morning.
Several persons objected to having the turkeys in their orchards owing
to a fondness which these birds develop for ripe fruit, as it was found
that when the turkeys once took to feeding upon the fruit they forgot
all about the locusts and proved quite as great a pest as did the in-
sects which they were expected to annihilate, rather than to aid, in
their destructive work. Owing to this undesirable habit of the turkey
it woidd be advisable to allow them the freedom only of nonhealing
orchards and vineyards, or at least, of those not containing ripe or
nearly ripe fruit.

54

Besides turkeys, the common barnyard fowls also prove to be very
efficient destroyers of locusts. This fact was abundantly attested in
the case of an almond orchard containing about 360 acres; this orchard
had been attacked by the migrating swarms which had spread over the
greater portion of it. The house, barn, and other buildings were situ-
ated nearly in the center of this orchard, and the barnyard fowls had
been allowed to range among the trees immediately surrounding them;
these trees covered perhaps 6 or 8 acres of land, and, at the time of my
visit to this place on the 7th of August, presented a very different ap-
pearance from those in the remaining portion of the orchard, remind-
ing one somewhat of an oasis in the desert. All about them the trees
had been nearly stripped of their leaves by the voracious locusts, while
upon those growing in the area designated above but few of the leaves
upon the trees had been eaten, owing to the persistent attacks of the
barnyard fowls upon the invading locusts.

In some localities the practice of driving the locusts out of the orchard
was resorted to, and resulted in some cases in a fair degree of success.
To accomplish this a band of men armed with clubs, shovels, etc.,
started in at the eastern side of the orchard, and forming a continuous
line north and south, proceeded to drive the locusts before them, driv-
ing them from tree to tree until they were driven completely out of the
orchard. It was stated that after the locusts had been driven a certain
distance they refused to go any farther, as if too tired, but after being
allowed to rest for a short time they then permitted themselves to be
driven before the advancing line of men. This driving was repeated
six or seven times at short intervals, and in the majority of cases re-
sulted in preventing the locusts from defoliating the trees.

Some persons employed a somewhat different method of driving the
locusts out of their orchards. A small pile of dry straw was placed on
the west side of each tree in the orchard, and a small quantity of sul-
phur thrown upon each pile; the most eastern piles of straw were first
ignited, and the wind, blowing from the west, blew the sulphur smoke
through the trees standing to the eastward of the burning straw; this
caused the locusts to fly out of these trees, and as they always go almost
straight against the wind, they would fly to the trees in the rows west
of those they were smoked out of. The next row of straw piles was
then set on fire, and this process was continued until the locusts had
been driven entirely out of the orchard. In conversation with several
persons who had tried this method I was informed that it resulted in a
fair degree of success, while several others, who had also tried it, in-
formed me that it was a complete failure, and that the locusts paid no
heed whatever to the sulphur smoke.

The practice of driving the locusts out of one orchard into another
can hardly be approved upon general principles, as it is hardly fair for
any man to drive the pests out of his own orchard into that of a neigh-
bor.

In the opening paragraph of the present chapter occurs the state-

55

merit that the locusts could be effectually destroyed by the use of the
bran and arsenic mixture when they occurred in ordinary numbers, 1 »u t
1 was informed that where they came in large swarms this mixture
scarcely produced any appreciable effect in lessening their numbers,
dozens of individuals coining to take the place of each of their fallen
comrades, and these new comers succeeded in almost completely defoli-
ating the trees in spite of the presence of the poisonous mixture. Un-
fortunately, 1 had no opportunity of testing this matter myself and
therefore am unable to decide in regard to the truthfulness of this state-
ment from personal experience.

Much might be accomplished in the matter of preventing the appear-
ance in the cultivated orchards of the migrating swarms by destroying
either the eggs or the young locusts in their natural breeding grounds.
In a previous chapter I have given my reasons for believing that the
swarms of locusts that occasionally appear in portions of the San Joa-
quin and Sacramento Valleys hatch out in the pasture lands among the
foothills along the western base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in
land overgrown with tarweeds. The eggs in these breeding grounds
might be destroyed either by burning over these grounds late in the
autumn after all of the eggs are laid, or by plowing under the eggs to
a depth of G or 8 inches at any time before they hatch out in the spring.
The eggs of the migrating California locust have never been seen by
me, but there is every reason for believing that they are deposited in
the same manner as those of other species belonging to the same genus.
These are deposited in a mass, the upper part of which is nearly on a
level with the surface of the ground, while the lower part is within three-
quarters of an inch of the surface. It is very probable, therefore, that
where there is any considerable quantity of dry weeds and other litter
scattered over the breeding ground, by setting fire to this litter the
heat generated from it would be sufficient to destroy all of the eggs
existing in the ground thus burned over.

Instead of thus destroying the eggs it might be advisable to wait
until the young locusts have hatched out in the following spring, and
then destroy these young ones before they have acquired wings and
migrated from the breeding grounds. This could evidently be accom-
plished with the least trouble and expense by scattering the bran and
arsenic mixture over the breeding grounds shortly after the young
locusts first make their appearance. In case that these breeding
grounds occur in pasture lands it might be advisable to fence them in,
so as to prevent the stock from being poisoned by this mixture put out
for the locusts. I am not aware that stock of any kind will feed upon
the tarweeds, so that but little loss in pasturage would be experienced
if the stock were to be prevented from ranging over patches o\' them.
I have been credibly informed that this method of poisoning the young
locusts in their natural breeding grounds has been practiced in Fresno
County for several years past, and that since it was tirst adopted no
serious outbreaks of locusts have occurred in that county.

56

The fact as above stated that the Devastating Locust breeds only or
almost wholly in places overgrown with tarweeds would indicate that
if these weeds were destroyed by being plowed under, and later by
thoroughly cultivating the soil, so that those appearing afterward
would be destroyed, the locusts would no longer choose such places for
oviposition; and just in proportion as this practice was extended,
in the same proportion would there be a less number of the locusts pro-
duced in the localities operated in. And if it were possible to wholly
eradicate these patches of tarweeds, that would evidently settle the
question of locust ravages in that section of country for all time to
come. Not only should the tarweeds in the pasture lands among the
foothills be destroyed, but also those growing along the roadsides and
in waste places about cultivated fields, since the locusts which hatch
out in such places aid in no small degree the devastating work of the
migrating swarms. Too much stress can not be laid upon this subject
of preventing, as far as possible, the breeding of the locusts, and of
destroying the young ones before they acquire wings. It has been the
unfortunate experience of many of our orchardists in the region of
country subject to these locust invasions, that after once the locusts
have acquired wingc and come into the orchards in immense swarms,
one following the other, little or no headway can be made against
them ; our greatest efforts, therefore, should be directed against these
pests before this stage of their existence is reached, and while it is
still within our power to successfully cope with them. In this respect,
an ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cure.

In the case of small trees these can be protected from the ravages ot
the locusts by being covered with sacks of cloth or of paper, allowing
these to remain upon the trees until all of the locusts have passed away.
For this purpose common barley or gunny bags, oat-meal sacks, and
paper sacks of various kinds have been used. These were simply slipped
over the young trees from above and the mouth of the sack tied about
the trunk of the tree. In place of sacks some persons employed old
newspapers, which they wrapped around the trees and fastened with
strings. I saw several hundred young orange, prune, and various other
kinds of deciduous trees which were inclosed in barley sacks, and I was
informed that the sacks had been on the trees for over live weeks, still
when several of them were removed the trees appeared to be as healthy
and vigorous as any I ever saw. It was reported that a large number
of trees had been killed by thus being covered with sacks, but I was
unable to find a single case where this had occurred. The following
paragraph on this subject is from the California Fruit Grower, of San
Francisco :

During the recent grasshopper invasion A. J. Lloyd, who has an orange orchard
near town, covered his young trees with gunny sacks, to prevent damage, as re-
ported hy the Oroville Mercury. The effect has been most disastrous, for upon re-
moving the sacks it was found that about 900 trees had been killed.

57

One orchardist who had used barley sacks successfully for the pur-
pose of protecting his young orange and prune trees from the attacks
of the locusts, informed me that some of his neighbors had used papei
sacks with the result of killing the trees, but I was unable to ascertain
how much truth there was in this assertion. I saw quite a large num-
ber of prune and olive trees that were wrav>ped in papers which I was
informed had been on the trees for three or four weeks, but these trees
had not been injured in the least by this treatment. A lady owning
an orchard of young fruit trees near Pasadena found that the leaves
of several of the trees had been eaten by a kind of May-beetle, Serica
Jimbriata Lee, which remained hidden from sight in the daytime and
came forth only at night to feed upon the leaves. Having been applied
to for advice I recommended that the trees be inclosed in barley sacks,
and that they be allowed to remain upon the trees for a period of about
three weeks, or until the May-beetles had passed away. Accordingly
this was done, and during a recent visit to this orchard I found that the
sacks had been duly removed and the trees were now growing vigor-
ously, being to all appearances none the worse for their temporary im-
prisonment. This would at once disprove the assertion that trees are
injured by being confined in sacks of this kind.

Of course, this method could only be employed for the protection of
small trees ; on large trees it would be altogether too expensive.

REPORT OF A TRIP TO KAKSAS TO INVESTIGATE RE-
PORTED DAMAGES FROM GRASSHOPPERS.*

By Herbert Osborn, Special Agent.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

Ames, Iowa, August 19, 1891.
Sir : I heg to submit herewith my report of a trip, made in accordance with in-
structions received July 21, 1891, to investigate reported damages by grasshoppers
in Kansas during the current year.
Very respectfully,

Herbert Osborn.
Prof. C. V. Riley,

JJ. S. Entomologist.

In accordance with instructions received July 24, to visit and report
on grasshopper injury in western Kansas, I started the following
morning for Kansas and improved every opportunity on the way to
learn of grasshopper injury. At Des Moines, where I waited a few
hours for the Kansas City train, I went through a large number of Kan-
sas papers, kindly placed at my service in the office of the State Register
and Ioiva Homestead, without, however, getting any information ex-
cept assertions in some places that there were no hoppers in Kansas.

From a gentleman lately through Arizona I learned of the appearance
of considerable numbers in that Territory and the expectation that
these might be traveling eastward. At Kansas City I Avas equally
unsuccessful, the only information received there being the statement of
railroad men as to the occurrence of hoppers on the railroad in Colo-
rado (the case investigated by Professors Snow and Popenoe), and of
some in Arizona, along the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railroad.

At Topeka I went first to the office of the State Board of Agriculture.
The Secretary, Mr. Mohler, was absent, but the gentlemen present,
Messrs. Longshore and Nyswander, kindly gave me a full statement as
to the information the office contained.

They receive reports from over six hundred correspondents who are
scattered over the entire State, the western portion being well repre-

* Eeprinted from Insect Life, vol. iv, p. 49.
5.8

r>9

sented. They assured me thai not a single report bad been received by

them which mentioned injury from grasshoppers, and they were positive
that no damage was being done.

At the newspaper offices I received similar replies, except that in the
office of the Kansas Democrat I learned of a report that sonic damage
had been done in Kearney County. As this report, however, was some-
what indefinite, I hesitated to make it the basis of a special trip to the
extreme southwest part of the State, and, Lawrence being so near at
hand, I concluded to go there to see if Professor Snow had any recent
information.

Professor Snow was absent, but his assistant, Mr. V. L. Kellogg,
kindly gave me all the information he could. He said that they had
heard nothing from the region that had been examined by Professors
Snow and Popenoe in Colorado, except that the winged insects were
moving south, and he was sure that none of these had entered Kansas.

He also informed me that they had received information of injuries
at Garden City, and showed me specimens of Caloptenus different talis
and bivittatus received from there.

This information tending to substantiate the report of damage in
Kearney County, I decided to visit Garden City and took the first train
for that place. On the way I kept careful outlook for any signs of
damage, and improved the opportunity of occasional stops to collect
specimens and inquire of residents as to the prevalence of grasshoppers.
All answers agreed in denial of any unusual numbers of grasshoppers
or of injury from them, and it was not till I reached Garden City that
I learned of any damage. Here I was told that the alfalfa fields were
being ruined, and it was only a short time after my arrival that I was
in a field a mile from town where the conditions showed at once the
state of affairs to be serious.

The alfalfa was badly stripped, the blossoms and seed entirely eaten
up, and in many x)atches the stems were stripped bare of leaves, look-
ing brown and dead.

The grasshoppers, mostly differ entialis, with a considerable number
of bivittatus, when rising in front of me as I walked through the field,
formed a cloud 8 or 10 feet high and so dense as to hide objects beyond
them. Here I noticed a number of grasshoppers dead from the attacks
of parasitic Tachinids.

From this field I went to another, owned by the same man, which was
also well filled with grasshoppers, but the injury here was Less, espe-
cially around the buildings, where a large number of turkeys were doing
excellent service in killing the hoppers and at the same time adding
rapidly to their own weight.

In a field of sorghum directly adjoining there was also considerable
injury, but differentia I is seemed scarce, while a bright green species.
Acridium frontalis Thos., was abundant and apparently the principal
agent of destruction. This species was also noticed here and in other

60

places occurring in great abundance on the Wild Sunflower so common
on these plains, and the question arose whether this was not its natural
food plant and its attacks on sorghum incidental.

The day following I spent the forenoon with Dr. Sabin, who kindly
furnished a horse and cart and accompanied me in examining a num-
ber of farms within 5 miles of Garden City, where alfalfa fields and
orchards were injured. I met and talked with a number of farmers who
had suffered from grasshopper depredations, and the information re-
ceived from them with what I gained by personal observation satisfied
me that losses could be avoided by proper measures.

I learned that the same injuries extended farther west along the river
where alfalfa was grown, and I proceeded from Garden City to Lakin,
observing on the way that all alfalfa fields showed presence of grass-
hoppers, but that in some cases the bloom was still free from serious
injury or destroyed only in patches. At Lakin I learned that injury
had been serious, especially on the place of Mr. Longstreth, some two
miles from town. Some fields near the river and occupying low land
were noticed in full bloom and showing little damage, but still grass-
hoppers could be found in abundance by closer inspection of the fields.

Mr. Longstreth's son, being in town, drove me out to his father's farm,
and accompanied me on a tour through his extensive orchard of 10 acres,
his oat field and alfalfa fields, in all of which the damage had been seri-
ous. Many of the trees in the orchard were entirely stripped of leaves,
and in some cases the bark had been eaten from the limbs. The alfalfa
presented the same appearance as observed in other fields. I found
here a great many dead grasshoppers, whose empty shells attested the
activity of Tachinse.

I was told by Mr. Longstreth that skunks were amongst the most
active enemies of the grasshoppers, and he believed played an important
part in reducing them. He had even seen one up in an apple tree catch-
ing hoppers on the limbs.

I learned at Lakin that alfalfa was also grown in the next county
west, at Syracuse, and that damage was also reported there, but on
reaching the place found the injury slight as compared with the other
places visited. In fact, aside from one farm on which some damage to
alfalfa and orchard had occurred I could learn of no loss. Caloptenas
differentialis I found in some numbers, and there is little doubt that
unless some effort is made this fall and next spring to destroy eggs and
young they will multiply as in other localities, and probably by next
season prove as destructive as in them.

As this point carried me into the westernmost row of counties in the
State, and there was no report of damage farther on, I determined to
cross northward to the Missouri Pacific Eoad, in order to follow up some
rumors regarding damage from grasshoppers at some points intervening,
and which, from the descriptions given, seemed possibly to be due to
Dissosteira longipennis. No point where serious loss occurred was found,
however, and this species occurred but sparingly at points between

61

Syracuse and Tribune, and occurred at Horace only in small numbers,
too few to cause any apprehension for the immediate future al Least.

Taking- the Missouri Pacific, I passed through to Kansas City without
finding any evidence of damage from grasshoppers, and as I could [earn
of no other localities in the State tlian in the three counties examined
where such damage was reported, I returned to Ames, and will now pro-
ceed to a detailed account of the territory examined, the species ob-
served, and the special measures needed to meet the outbreak in this
section.

THE TERRITORY AFFECTED.

The damaged territory is quite easily defined and might very prop-
erly be said to coincide with the irrigated portion of the Arkansas
Valley lying in Finney, Kearney, and Hamilton counties in southwest
Kansas. The entire irrigated district, however, is not equally injured
and there are some fields much less damaged than others. The whole
area covered extends with occasional breaks a distance of about 50
miles along the river and forms a strip from 1 to 5 miles wide but
limited entirely to areas where irrigation has been practiced, and within
this limit is dependent upon the kind of crops raised.

The greater damage was observed at Garden City, though nearly as
bad was seen at Lakin, and but little was found at Syracuse, corre-
sponding as near as I could learn pretty closely with the length of
time since alfalfa has been made a principal crop on the irrigated
lands.

THE CROPS AFFECTED.

Alfalfa is the crop in which there is the most loss, but orchards are
suffering badly, and were they extensive throughout the district would
very probably present the heavier loss.

The alfalfa crop is a very profitable one and easily grown with irriga-
tion, and has been very extensively planted, the fields devoted to it
covering many thousands of acres.

The injury to this crop is of such a nature that I believe practical
remedies may be adopted, and, as will be stated later, active measures
should be adopted this fall and next spring.

THE AMOUNT OF INJURY.

The great loss this year has resulted from the destruction of the seed
crop. In many fields this has been a total failure, and the loss may be
considered as covering thousands of acres and involving many thou-
sands of dollars. One man who had something over 1(H) acres in alfalfa
considered that his loss amounted to about .£2,000. While lie expected
to cut and use the crop lor hay, the damage had been such that the hay
would be little better than after the seed crop had been secured, and
he reckoned the lull loss of the seed CTOp tor the season. In SOmecaseS,

62

farmers were cutting for hay when they had intended to allow the crop
to go to seed, and in this way were reducing the amount of their loss
by the value of the crop of hay cut early over what the hay would be
worth after maturing seed, the latter, of course, being much less valua-
ble than the hay cut before seed matures. In many cases the farmers
had been depending largely upon the crop of seed to help them out of
debt, and the loss from the grasshopper injury falls heavily upon them.

THE SPECIES DOING THE DAMAGE.

The Differential Locust is, I think, chargeable with fully nine- tenths
of the destruction, both in alfalfa and orchards, and the reasons for its
increase in this section seem to me quite evident. The irrigated fields
of alfalfa furnish it with favorite food in abundance throughout the
year and have given it an opportunity to multiply rapidly without ex-
hausting its food supply.

The ditches which traverse the fields and possibly parts of the fields
themselves furnish a most excellent location for the deposition of eggs,
the ground being contact and for the most part undisturbed through-
out the year. That the eggs are deposited in or alongside the ditches
is indicated by several facts, though at the time of my visit the locusts,
while pairing, were none of them ovipositing. In the first place, the
greatest damage has occurred in strips on either side of the ditches,
and only in the worst fields extends over the entire field; second, at
the time of my visit the pairing individuals were quite evidently collect-
ing more particularly in these locations; third, the testimony of those
who seemed to have observed most closely agreed in placing the greatest
number of young hoppers in spring along the borders of the ditches, a
point which is clearly supported by the injured strips so plainly to be
seen. ^No one whom I questioned had seen the locusts in the act of
ovipositing.

The ditches contain no water during a large part of the year, and in
fall the compact bottom, which doubtless affords more moisture than
the fields in general, would seem an excellent place for the deposition
of eggs, as well as the banks on either side. Judging by the habits of
these and allied species in other locations it would be hard to conceive
a more favorable place for the deposition of eggs, and it seems to me
very probable that this, as well as the suitability and abundance of the
food, may be considered an important factor in the rapid increase of
the species in the last three or four years, an increase that has taken
place directly with the cultivation of alfalfa by irrigation.

It would seem also that this habit renders the insect especially open
to attack, and I see no reason why concentrated effort may not entirely
prevent a repetition of the damage another year.

MEASURES RECOMMENDED.

The situation, it seems to me, is one deserving serious attention, but

63

one which offers every hope for successful work, if the residents of the

affected localities can but be induced to make a Little effort at the
proper time.

The means which appear tome from inspection of the ground to prom-
ise most successful results would be as follows:

(1) To thoroughly break up the surface of the ground in and along
the ditches before winter by harrowing thoroughly, cultivating or shal-
low plowing, thus exposing the eggs to winter weather and natural
enemies.

(2) Wherever practicable, to flood the ground for a day or two at the
time young locusts are hatching. I was told that the young hoppers
were entirely unaffected by water, as they would crawl up the alfalfa
stems and escape, and it is probable that sufficient flooding to accom-
plish much good in this region is out of the question. My only hope in
this line would be in watching carefully for the time of hatching, and
using the water before the hoppers had obtained any growth, and if
abundant along the ditches, putting a little kerosene on the water.

(3) A use of the hopperdozer as early in the season as possible, when
I believe the treatment of a strip 8 or 10 feet wide on each side of the
ditches would destroy so large a part of their numbers as to prevent
any serious damage. As I learned from a number of parties the hop-
pers are scarcely half grown when the first crop is cut, it would seem
that immediately after cutting the first crop would be the best time to
use the hopperdozer. The hoppers would be large enough to jump
readily and the dozers could be run very easily. It would be difficult
to use them at any other time than directly after a crop was cut, as the
dense growth of alfalfa would obstruct their movement.

My strongest recommendation would be the urging of effort in break-
ing up egg masses before winter, and then in case locusts still appear
in any number in spring to resort to the dozers at first opportunity. I
believe active use of these measures will be effectual, with a cost but
trifling compared with the value of the crop to be saved.

The information as to the species and the measures needed are cov-
ered very fully in your Bulletin on Destructive Locusts,* and with some
specific instruction regarding the treatment of ditches in this special
locality would, I think, give the people of the district affected all the
information necessary to protect themselves, and it would seem advisa-
ble to send a number of copies of that bulletin to the postmasters at
Garden City, Lakin, and Syracuse, to distribute to farmers, who would
make use of them, as well as to those whose names I will furnish for
this purpose.

OTIIER SPECIES OBSERVED.

The species next to differential's that 1 should call most abundant in
the injured fields was bivittatus; but taken alone its damage would

* Bull. 25, Div. of Entomology, U. S. Dept, Agriculture.

64

have been insignificant. Its habits are so nearly like those of differ-
entiaUs that I see no occasion to give it farther mention, and I have
little doubt that any measures adopted against differ entialis will prove
as effective against this species.

Dissosteira longipennis was taken in some numbers at all points vis-
ited in Finney, Kearney, Hamilton, and Greeley counties, and as this
species has caused so much injury in eastern Colorado this season, I
took rather special pains to note its abundance and inquire as to any
destruction resulting from it. At no point did it occur in destructive
numbers, and I should not look for any injury from it in these localities
in the near future at least.

PARASITES AND DISEASES.

The many parasitized grasshoppers noted indicated a multiplication
of such forms, and these will undoubtedly accomplish much in reducing
the numbers that can deposit eggs this fall, but I should deem it un-
wise to depend on them and to omit the active measures already urged.

The most general parasites were apparently the Tachina flies, as the
great majority of dead hoppers were found to be completely devoured
within.

Some of the dead grasshoppers had the appearance of having been
affected with Entomoyhthora, and I gathered a number in order to make
an effort to cultivate the disease, but as yet have nothing to report in
this line. The dead hoppers will be kept with living ones, and if the
latter take the disease we may hope to still farther multiply the dis-
ease by inoculating still others, and then an effort can be made to dis-
tribute the disease in the fields. Its spread, however, is evidently
slow, and I do not think other measures should be neglected this season
for a plan which is still uncertain.

Among the natural enemies observed, toads were perhaps the most
common, some of the fields containing great numbers of them, espe-
cially of half-grown individuals, and these would seem capable of greatly
reducing the number of hoppers. A dead one, which saved me the
necessity of making a dissection to get positive proof, showed in the
partly decomposed stomach the legs and other parts of grasshoppers,
proving that, as would be inferred from presence of toads in the fields,
their mission was to feed upon the grasshoppers.

The attacks of skunks upon grasshoppers, as stated by Mr. Long-
streth, have already been mentioned.

As the tendency is for natural enemies to multiply with the increase
of any species of insect, we may look for increased assistance from this
source by another year, and in connection with the measures already
urged, these ought by another year to keep the insect entirely within
the limits of destructiveness.