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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
division of entomology.

Bulletin No. 28.

THE

MORE DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS

OF

AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO.

BY

LAWRENCE BRUNER.

(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTUR

W ASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1893.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Bulletin No. 2s.

THE

MORE DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS

OF

AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO.

BY

LAWRENCE BRUNER

(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OK THE SECRETARY' Uc AGRICULTURE.)

WASHIN Cx T O N :

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
[893.

CONTENTS.

Letter of transmittal 5

Letter of submittal 7

Introduction it

The American Locust (Schistoccrca americana) 10

The Large Green Bush-locust (Jcridium shoshone) 11

The Small Green Locust (Aeridium frontalis) 12

The Long-winged Forest Locust (Dendroteitix lontjipennis) 14

The Differential Locust (Melanoplus differentialis) 15

The Robust Locust (Melanoplus robustus) 17

The Two-striped Locust (Melanoplus bivit tains) 19

The Detestable Locust (Melanoplus f (edits) 21

The Devastating Locust (Melanoplus devastator) 22

The Xarrow-winged Locust (Melanoplus angustipennis) 24

The Herbaceous Locust (Melanoplus herbaceus) 25

The Rocky Mountain Locust ( Melanoplus spretus) 27

The Lesser Migratory Locust (Melanoplus atlanis) 29

The Red legged Locust (Melanopl us fern ur-rubr urn) 30

The Lead-colored Locust (Melanoplus plumbeus) 32

Pezotettix enigma 33

The Pellucid-winged Locust (Camnula pellucida) 34

The Long-winged Locust (Dissosteira longipennis) 3ti

The Pale- winged Locust (Dissosteira oblitcrata) 39

3

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. Department of Agriculture,

Division of Entomology,
'Washington, D. C, October 15, 1892.
Sir: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 28 of
this Division. It comprises an account of the destructive locusts of the
United States, and of those species which are liable to become destruc-
tive, and may be looked upon as supplementary to Bulletins 25 and 27
of this Division. It has been prepared by Mr. Lawrence Bruner, the
agent of the Division at Lincoln, Nebr., who has been associated with
me in the study of the family to which these insects belong, and since
the completion of the work of the Entomological Commission has made
a special study of the true locusts of North America, materially aiding
in the investigations of the injuries caused by them of late years.
Respectfully yours,

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

Secretary of Agriculture.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

Lincoln, Nebb., October 20, 1892.

Sir: Since there has been an apparent increase in the number of cer-
tain of the destructive locusts in many parts of the country during the
past two or three years, it has been deemed advisable to prepare a
I brief account of all of the species that have been connected with these
depredations. The following pages on the Destructive Locusts of Amer-
ica Xorth of Mexico are therefore submitted for approval and for publica-
tion, if thought worthy. As will be seen, this paper covers all of the
forms that have been the cause of injury in the past, as well as those
that are liable to do injury in the future.

The manuscript which forms this paper was originally prepared as a
part of another report,* but at your suggestion has been somewhat re-
arranged so as to make a separate bulletin, if thought desirable. The
excuse for offering this paper at the present time is that, although all
of the insects herein mentioned have been previously described, the
literature in which the descriptions originally appeared is so scattered
and difficult of access that the general reader would have trouble in
refer ring to it. Besides, many of these works are now out of print.
Then, too, a paper treating of the entire group of these destructive
insects of the region included is in demand by both the working ento-
inologists and the general reader. The short sketches relative to the
food habits and distribution of each of the species treated have been
compiled from previous writings and field notes gathered by the various
agentsof the United States Entomological Commission and the Division
of Entomology, and are supposed to be approximately correct, at least as
nearly so as could be made at present, while the life histories are chiefly
from your own notes and observations.

Through your kindness and interest in the undertaking a number of
the forms are herewith figured for the first time. Other courtesies are
also gratefully acknowledged.

Prof. C. V. Kiley,

T. 8, Entomologist,

Washington, P. C.

Lawkence Bbuneb,

Special Fit Id Agi nt.

" Reports on tin- Damage by Destructive Locusts daring the season of 1891, Hull.
No. 27, of I', s. Department of Agriculture, l>i\ ision of Entomology, pp. 9

7

THE MORE DESTRUCTIVE LOCUSTS OF AMERICA
NORTH OF MEXICO.

If one were to describe or even to mention all of the locusts that are
injurious to vegetation in this country every species would have to be
included in such a list. Taken as a group then- are no exceptions to
the general rule in this particular case. Every member of the family
is a vegetable feeder, and hence is to be considered as harmful from the
agricultural standpoint. As certain restrictions are absolutely ni
sary in the preparation of this report, only a tew from among the many
of these insects will be treated, and these briefly. Accordingly here-
with is appended a list of the different locusts or grasshoppers that
have been known to occur in destructive numbers within the limits of
North America north of the Mexican boundary during the past twenty
or thirty years, together with such other species as are liable to become
destructive in the future.

Every warm or temperate country of any extent of which a consider-
able portion is arid or semidesert. or where the climate is liable to var-
iation, has its locust swarms. Of all insect pests these swarms of lo-
custs are generally most dreaded, because of their manner of attack
and the rapidity with which they can and do lay waste a country or
district. Other insect enemies may do an equal amount of injury dur-
ing the year, but as it is not done '-right before our very eyes." we do
not think so much of it.

These destructive locusts may be divided into two classes with re-
spect to their habits, viz, they are either migratory or they are non-
migratory. When the former, they move about over the country from
one region to another and drop upon us without much warning. When
the latter, they simply multiply, do their injury, and remain where they
are. Likewise, these destructive locusts may belong t«» either tin- one
or the other of two subfamilies, i. >.. the (Edipodinse and the Acridiime.
Here in Korth America most of the destructive species belong to the
subfamily Acridiime. while in the Orient the reverse is probably the
rule.

The members Qfthe subfamily (Edipodinae are at once recognizable
by their colored hind wings, the unarmed sternum of the prothorax,
and in having the cushions between the daws of the tret very small.
The Acridiime. on the other hand, usually have the hind wings trans-
parent, the presternum always spined, and the feet provided with a
rather large cushion between the claws. The members of the group
CEdipodinaB are usually further recognizable, from the tact that they

9

10

are, as a rule, provided with a more or less prominent median carina or
ridge upon the pronotum, while in theAcridiinae this character is usually
very obscure.

THE AMERICAN LOCUST.

(Schistocerca americana Drury.)

The accompanying- illustration (Fig. 1) of a female specimen of this
large, handsome insect will at once indicate to the reader Avhich one of all
our locusts should bear the above name. The following description will
facilitate the identification of the species :

Female (large size). — Vertex between the eyes hexagonal, with a central depression;
frontal costa solid and somewhat prominent above the ocellus, sides nearly parallel.
Eyes elongate oval, rounded behind; straight in front. Pronotuni expanding at the
posterior lobe ; median carina but slightly prominent; humeral angles subdistinct
on the posterior lobe, obtusely rounded; anterior and middle lobes marked with
minute shallow cells, each having a very minute tubercle in the center; posterior

Fig. 1. — Schistocerca, americana — natural aize (after Riley).

lobe densely punctured; posterior margin about right-angled; apex rounded. Teg-
mina and wings passing the abdomen about one-third of their length. Posterior
femora reaching the apex of tin- abdomen. Prosternal spine large, curved backward
and hairy.

Reddish-brown, with a slight vermilion tint. A yellow stripe extends from the
vertex along the middle of the head and pronotum, and also upon the suture of the
closed tegmina as far as the tip of the abdomen. A dark brown line down the
cheeks below the eyes. On the sides of the pronotum is a yellow stripe extending
from the submarginal to the last cross-incision, directed a little obliquely downward;
below this is a brown stripe ; then a narrow yellow stripe directed obliquely upward ;
lower margin yellow. The tegmina are opaque and reddish at the base, the rest.
semi-transparent; a narrow white stripe on the lower margin, next the base; the
disk and apical half marked with large cellular, fuscous spots. Wings transparent;
the nerves at the base and inner portion yellowish-white, on the outer portions
black. Legs, bright \ermilion red. Posterior femora have a row of black dots
along the upper and lower margins of the disk and one through the middle; spines
of posterior tibiae yellow, tipped with black. Each segment of the abdomen has a
ring of dusky dots on its posterior margin.

Male. — The male differs from the female in being much smaller. It has the sub-
anal plate prolonged and deeply notched at the apex ; the cerci are very broad,
straight, and truncate at the apex.

Length of body — male, 1.7 inches; female, 2.1 inches; tegmina in both sexes same
as body.

11

This handsome locust is most commonly met with in the region lying
south of the fortieth degree of north latitude, but is by 10 means ab-
sent from all the territory north of that parallel. It occurs aorthof
this line in Nebraska, South Dakota. Iowa, Illinois. Indians!. Michigan,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and perhaps even New York, it does
not, however, become destructive much beyond the Gulf States. It is
the chief destructive species of Eucatan, Central America, and sooth
ern Mexico. In fact, it is very closely allied to the large Wandering
Locust of the Orient (Schistocerca peregrina)^ and by some authors Lb
claimed to be only a variety of that species. Be this as it may, every
warm country of the globe, island, or continent lying within the trop-
ics or within the adjoining 15 degrees of the temperate zones has one
or more of these large locusts that show a wonderfully close relation-
ship to our Sehistocerca americana. Most of them are also frequently
destructive, while a number of them are exceedingly migratory in their
habits.

THE LARUE GREEN BUSH-LOCUST.
Acridium shosliont Thos.

Fig. 2.— Acridium ihothone— natural size (original).

This insect is described by Prof. Thomas as follows in his report on

the Orthoptera collected by the Wheeler Expedition in the Southwest :

Female. — Vertex nearly horizontal; sides angularly expanding in front of thi
llat frontal costa prominent, sides parallel, sulcate from the ocellus downward, above
the ocellus somewhat gibbons and punctured : la t mi I carina? verj prominent, parallel.
Pronotum Blightly expanding posteriorly, coarsely and reticulately punctured;
midian carina distinct, severed by the three transverse impressions. Tegmina and
wings passing the abdomen. Cerci verj short, broad at the base, narrowed and
rounded at the apex. Posterior femora much enlarged at the base; posterior tibia
considerably enlarged at the apex. Prosternal •-pine robust, cylindrical, and nearly
straight. Pectus punctured. Abdomen of the male somewhat elongated; cerci very
broad and flat, very slightly and obtusely notched at the apex, w hich is bent upward
over the last segment ; subanal plate elongate, turned upward, with a distinct square
notch at the apex.

Dark olive-green. Ocelli bright transparent amber; eyes brown; cheeks yellow-
ish, with a dark green stripe extending downward from the eyes. The pronotum

12

has some pale spots on the sides, and sometimes the posterior lobe is tinged with
brown. Tegmina uniform green, somewhat transparent at the apex, and in some
specimens faintly tinged with brown. Wings hyaline; nerves and nervules dark
brown. Posterior femora greenish above and below ; pinnae of the disk alternately
white and green, the white occupying the flat interspaces; inner face greenish yel-
low. Posterior tibiae bright vermilion, the under surface being striped with yellow ;
spines yellow at the base, tipped with black. Venter and pectus dark green, some-
times varied with dark brown.

Length of body — male, 1.6 to 1.75 inches; female, 2 to 2.25 inches; tegmina and
wings about one-fifth less.

This magnificent locust, which is fully as large as americana, was
first described from Nevada and Arizona, but has since been taken in
Utah, California, New Mexico, Texas, and across the border in the
States of Chihuahua and Durango in Mexico. Several years ago the
writer found it quite abundant in the vicinity of El Paso, Tex.; and
Prof. C. H. T. Townsend, of the New Mexico Agricultural College, re-
ports it as destructive to the Mesquite bushes and probably also to
grape-vines in portions of New Mexico. Being strictly an arboreal in-
sect, shoshone is liable to become more or less of a tree pest when
numerous. In Utah this insect was taken by me upon various low
trees growing on the lower mountain slopes back of Ogden, Salt Lake
City, and near Garfield Beach. It was also occasionally taken in the
valleys on Willows, and even upon some of the rank-growing herbs;
but I have never seen or taken a specimen of it upon the ground.

It has been treated here because of its occurrence in destructive
numbers in 1891 in portions of New Mexico, and because its life as a
tree-dweller is sure to favor its greater multiplication with the advance
of civilization.

THE SMALL GREEN LOCUST.
(Acridium frontalis Thos.)

Another one of our locusts belonging to the genus Acridium that has

quite recently shown a tendency
towards becoming a pest is the one
bearing the above name. It was
found by Prof. H. Osborn in south-
western Kansas the i>ast summer,
where it was doing considerable in-
jury to the sorghum crop of that
„ 0 . .,. . ,".. . . . . . . .. rep-ion. It was also observed by me

Fig. 3. — Ac naium frontalis — natural size (original). ° J

in central Texas in the spring of
1887, where it occurred in more than common numbers.

The insect appears to be growing more and more fond of cultivated
grounds, as is shown by its habit of congregating along wagon roads
and the edges of fields among the ranker growths of the vegetation that
is common to such places. In its haunts and food habits Acridium

13

frontalis is inclined to be a little particular, jusl as are a Dumber of
other species of our North American insects belonging to this family;
but its tastes can not be considered refilled when it is known thai chief
on its bill of tare comes the wild Sunflowers so common throughout that
portion of the Wesl to which the insect is characteristic. It also seems
to relish the Sorghum plant, which latter is entirely ignored by the
Rocky .Mountain Locust.
This locust can be recognized by the following description :

Wrtr\- subconicaL small size. Tegmina and wings Dot passing th<- abdomen.
General color, green.

Closely allied to A. tunilineatum Walk.: caloptenoid io general appearance. Ver-
tex regularly hexagonal, standing out in tin- form of a very short, truncated cone,
the rip depressed in the center: face >lightlv oblique, straight, qnadricarinate ; <ar-
iiue nearly parallel, the middle pair approaching each other immediately below the
ocellus. Eye- elongate, oblique, straight in front. Pronotnm scarcely enlarged be-
hind : anterior lobes reticnlately, and posterior lobe longitudinally, rngnlose; median
carina very distinct. Tegmina and wings narrow, rather shorter than the abdomen.
Valves of the ovipositor prominent, lower pair much slenderer than the npper pair.
and much exserted. Male cerci slender, tapering, and turned up : snbanal plate last
ventral segment) narrow, tapering: snbtrnncate at the apex, entire. Prosternal
spine snbqnadrate, pointed, and straight. Antennas passing the prouotuin slightly.
Posterior femora passing the abdomen.

Nearly uniform grass green. Face and pronotnm sprinkled with dusky dots. The
elevated line- of the pronotumpale yellow, more or less tinged with red. The upper
edges of the posterior femora also more or less tinged with red. Antenna-, orange
color. Tegmina somewhat lighter green than body: transparent. Wings, pellucid.

Length of body — female. 1.06 inches; male. 0.82 inch. Length of tegmina — female.
0.63 inch; male. 0.5 inch.

Although frontalis is found as far north as Bismarck, N. Dak., it is
essentially a southern insect. Especially is this true with respect to
its presence in destructive numbers. It is a common species in Ne-
braska in certain localities, is found in eastern Wyoming rarely, and in
eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico more frequently, while
in Kansas and southward it becomes quite numerous, especially upon
rolling, more <>r less sandy soil. To the eastward it reaches into west-
ern Iowa ami central .Missouri.

We have several other species of these large Acridians within the
limits of the United States, all of which occasionally show a tendency
toward uncommon multiplication.

These are Acridium appendiculatum, A. rubiginosum, a. alutaceum^
A.obscurum, A. unit incut km. -awi] A.albolineatum. The Schu ■ vaga

also should be included among the latter species. All of these insects
are arboreal in their habits, and live the greater portion of their lives
above ground in wooded districts, and on this account are rather hard
to deal with.

14

FIG. i. —Dendrotettix longipennis — natural size (original).

THE LONG- WINGED FOREST LOCUST.

(Dendrotettix longipennis Riley.)

This particular species is the one mentioned in Bulletin 13 of the Divi-
sion of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture, as the Post-oak
Locust. I quote Prof. Riley's specific description of the insect :

Dendrotettix longipennis Riley.— General color testaceous with slight olivaceous
hue, varied with faint yellow and piceous bands and lines; face dull olivaceous
brown; occiput, especially back of the eyes, darker. Pronotum olivaceous with
more or less yellow; median carina and the transverse impressed lines on the lateral

bands piceous. generally darkest
and most continuous in the ^ .
Tegmina dull olivaceous brown,
the veins being testaceous and
giving the basal half a decidedly
lighter coloring. Wings rather
dark, becoming somewhat pel-
lucid near their base, the veins
dusky, especially on their apical
half. Posterior femora with their
outer face dull olivaceous and marked with brown and black along their upper edges
and crossing to the inner surface, which, with the lower sulcus, is bright sanguin-
eous, this coloring showing through the somewhat transparent walls even on the
outside; the apex black, preceded by a rather wide and very distinct lemon-yellow
annulus; hind tibia' with a wide post-basal annulus of the same bright color; an-
terior and middle legs, also the tarsi of the hind legs gamboge-yellow, with the
spines and claws black; antennae fuscous, olivaceous towards tip. Venter gamboge-
yellow.
Average length $ 25mm, 9 30mui.

The short-winged forms agree in all other respects except that, as is the case with
other genera, the tegmina do not ordinarily extend much beyond the second abdom-
inal joint, and may be either perfectly rounded or slightly twisted at the apex. In
some cases, however, they extend to one-half the length of the abdomen.

Described from 2 $ $ and 3 9 9 of the long-winged form, and 4 / $ and 7 9 9 of
the short-winged form. Received from E. H. Hill, Manor, Travis County, Tex., July
13, 1887, as injuring post oaks, and collected by Mr. Bruner.

The Long- winged Forest Locust or " Post-oak Locust'7 of Texas, as
the name would imply, is also an arboreal insect. It is shown in the
accompanying illustration (Fig. 4).

This locust was first noticed by the inhabitants of Washington
County, Tex., about the year 1885, when it attracted their attention by
defoliating the post-oak trees over a considerable extent of territory
lying to the eastward of the town of Brenham. In the spring of the
following year I had the privilege of studying the species to some ex-
tent while visiting the region to examine into a local outbreak of an-
other locust that threatened the cotton and corn crops. The following
in reference to its habits and mode of life i copy from a report made at
the time : *

"The egg pods are deposited in the ground about the bases of trees
or indifferently scattered about the surface among the decaying leaves,

Bull. No. 13, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Entomology.

15

etc., like those of all ground-laying species. The young commence
hatching about the middle of March and continue to appear until into
April. After molting the first time and becoming a little hardened
they immediately climb up the trunks of the trees and bushes of all
kinds and commence feeding upon the new and tender foliage. They
molt at least five or six times, if we may take' the variation in size and
the difference in the development of the rudiments of wings as crite-
ria. The imago or mature stage is reached by the last of May or dur-
ing the first part of June.

"The species is very active and shy in all its stages of growth after
leaving the egg. The larva and pupa run up the trunks and along tin-
limbs of trees with considerable speed, and in this respect differ con-
siderably from all other species of locusts with which I am acquainted.
I am informed that the mature insects are also equally wild and i fly
like birds.' They feed both by day and night; and I am told by those
who have passed through the woods after night when all else was quiet,
that the noise produced by the grinding of their jaws was not unlike
the greedy feeding of swine.

'-Aside from its arboreal nature there is but a single instance men-
tioned of its preference for growing crops. This was a small field of
either cotton or corn, or perhaps both. If the nature of the crop was
told me at the time, I have forgotten. At any rate the crop of one or
the other of these two staples gtfew in a small clearing in the very midst
of the most thickly visited area. The mature insects alone were the
offenders in this instance. During the daytime they would leave the
trees in swarms and alight upon the growing crop and feed until even-
ing, when they would return to the trees. If, during the day. they were
disturbed, they immediately took wing and left for the tops of the sur-
rounding trees, to return shortly afterwards."

Mature specimens of this locust have since been obtained, which show
the insect to be congeneric with Dendrotettix guereus Riley MS., a species
found upon the oaks of .Missouri, southeastern Nebraska, and southern
Iowa and Illinois. Longipennis occurs in two forms, i. c. with either
well-developed wings or with those appendages in a rudimentary con-
dition.

THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCUST,
(Melanoplw differentials Tims.)

Very conspicuous among the •* native species" of locusts in the Mis-
sissippi Valley and southwest ward is the one which entomologists call
Melanoplus differentialis. This insect is fully as large as the common
two-striped species thai is familiar to everybody who has noticed any
inseets of this class, but differs from it in being yellowish throughout
and lacking the two stripes along the sides of the back and wings. 'The
Differential Locust is also less robusl in form than the one with which

16

it is here compared. The accompanying figure (Fig. 5), that of a female
specimen, is not quite typical of the species, but will greatly aid in its
recognition. The following description of this locust is that given by
Prof. Cyrus Thomas, who named it:

Large size, robust ; tegmiua passing the abdomen, unspotted ; olive brown above,
yellow beneath.

Vertex elongate, depressed, broadly sulcate, closed in front; frontal costa broad,
flat, or slightly sulcate; sides parallel; lateral carina? distinct, slightly divergent.
Antenme of males half as long as the body. Pronotum quadrate ; sides perpendicular,
parallel; lateral carina? or humeral angles obtusely rounded; median carina distinct,
except on post-median lobe of the female ; third transverse incision very distinct and
deeply indented, others distinct. Posterior femora much enlarged near the base, the
disk convex, about as long as the abdomen; posterior tibia? enlarged toward the
apex, hairy. Prosternal spine cylindrical, bent slightly backward. Subanal plate
of the male triangular; apex blunt, entire; cerci with basal half broad, an obtuse
tooth about the middle of the posterior margin, above this bent and tapering.

Color (male). — Head and anterior lobes of the pronotum reddish or olive brown;
sides paler, with from one to three oblique, black lines; transverse incisions dark on

the sides. Tegmina unspot-
ted, olive brown; reddish at
the base, semi-transparent.
Wings pellucid ; nerves of the
apical and front portions dark,
rest yellowish. Posterior fem-
ora yellow ; three black spots

Fig. 5,-Mekmoplus diferentialis-nztwal size (after Ruey). <m the upper edge ; interspaces

of the disk black, ribs pale yel-
low; tibiae yellow, spines black. Abdomen yellow, with small, black spots and
stripes. Venter and pectus yellow. The female differs from the male in having
the head and thorax olive; the legs and venter a brighter yellow than her mate.

Length of body — male, 1.2 inches; female, 1.5 to 1.7 inches; of tegmina— male, 1
inch; female, 1.25 inches.

This insect has very frequently multiplied in such numbers in limited
areas over its range as to do considerable injury to cultivated crops
growing upon low, moist ground; and has even been known very fre-
quently to spread over higher and dryer lands adjoining these, its cus-
tomary haunts. It is one of the few species of locusts that has thus
far shown a tendency toward civilization. This it has done readily,
since its habits are in unison with the cultivation of the soil. It is
only since the settlement of the country where it originally occurred
that it has multiplied so as to become sufficiently numerous to become
a serious pest. Blfferentialis frequents plowed fields, and is a lover of
rank growing, juicy food, just such as is offered in Corn, Clover, Alfalfa,
etc., as well as various garden products.

The eggs of differentials are laid in cultivated grounds that are more
or less compact, preferably old roads, deserted fields, the edges of weed
patches, and well-grazed pastures adjoining weedy ravines. Egg-lay-
ing begins about the middle of August and continues into October,
varying, of course, according to latitude and climatic conditions. Usu-
ally, but not always, only a single cluster of eggs is deposited by each

17

female. Frequently there arc Two. and in extreme cases perhaps even
three, of these clusters deposited by ;i single female.

The range of this insect is not so extended as that of the Two-striped
Locust, but nevertheless it is quite general west of the Allegheny Moun-
tains and south of the forty-third degree of north latitude. It is common
in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and is met with
more or less frequently in southeastern Colorado, Indian Territory,
New Mexico. Texas, Arizona, and California. In Kansas and Nebraska
we often find black or nearly black specimens, while in California many
of the insects of this species have the hind tibia^ bright coral red. Aside
from these color variations the species is very true to its typical char-
acters.

THE ROBUST LOCUST.

Melanoplus robustus Scudd.)

Next to Melanoplus differential is and very similar to it in general ap-
pearance and size is the large yellowish-brown and gray locust that is
known by the name of Melanoplus
robustus. This insect appears to be
of rather local distribution since it
occurs only in Texas, so far as I am
at present aware. It was this insect
that was chiefly concerned in the
injuries wrought in central Texas
during the years 188o and 1886. and
upon which I reported in Bulletin
Xo. 13 of the Division .of Entomol-
ogy.

The habits of this locust are given
in that paper, and are briefly as fol-
lows:

"While the Rocky Mountain or
Migratory Locust prefers rather
solid soil upon somewhat elevated
open fields and closely grazed pas-
tures for depositing its eggs, all of
these species now infesting central Texas appear to find more suitable
conditions among rank herbage tor the deposition of their eggs and
subsequent development of the young larvae. The large species espe-
cially finds the protected roots of grasses and corn best adapted t<> the
sheltering of its eggs, and almost invariably selects the varieties which
grow in chimps for this purpose. In digging 1 have found as inan\ as
8 or 10 egg-pods inserted among the poof stalks of a single clump ot
grass. Possibly the sheltered nature <>t' these eggs protects them from
the numerous parasites which attack those of the Migratory Locust
and other species which deposit in open or unprotected mound, li is
10006— No. 28 2

Kir,. 6. — Melantqthi* robuttut- natural size
(original).

18

asserted by different persons in this region that the present species
lays an average of 150 eggs to the pod, which, judging from the frag-
ments of egg-shells found by digging, is nearly correct; at any rate
the estimate is not too high. Egg-depositing with this species com-
mences rather later than with some of the other representatives of the
genus, but just at what date I did not learn. There is but a single pod
formed by each insect, the entire complement of eggs being deposited
at once.

"The larvae commence hatching during the latter part of March and
continue to appear up to the middle of April, according to the forward-
ness or backwardness of the season. Wet, warm weather favors the
hatching, while dry weather rather retards the process. The young

molt five times, at intervals of
from twelve to twenty days, ac-
cording to the condition of the
weather. Dry weather with
hot days retards, while damp
or wet weather favors, this
process among insects by keep-
^hT^ ni£ tQe exuviae pliable during

FlQ.7.—Melano2)lusrobustus— natural size (original). Hioltillg, as Well aS ill furnish-
ing the necessary moisture re-
quired in growth. The winged or mature insects appear about the
middle of July or a little earlier and begin to copulate soon afterward,
thus completing the cycle.

"Their mode of attack does not differ greatly from that of M. spretus,
save in that the latter begin upon the crops immediately after hatch-
ing, while this species does not. They wait until they are from three
to four weeks old before venturing far from the places of hatching.
Like that species they have the habit of huddling together upon plants
and among grasses and debris during cool nights and cloudy days.
This appears to be a trait common to all iusects when present in large
numbers, and must be the result of some special instinct. When about
half grown the larvae become pretty well scattered over the fields and
do not hop back to the weed patches on the outskirts in the evening, as
they do while younger and when beginning their attacks upor the
crops. The molting rs the same as with other locusts, and need not be
described here. The grown hoppers do not migrate by flight, but do
sometimes move in concert in certain directions by jumping. This can
hardly be termed migration, since the change of location is merely per-
formed for the purpose of obtaining food, while the act of migrating is
toward obtaining more decided results. When feeding they can be
driven like other locusts, and this trait in their nature has been taken
advantage of at different times and by many of the planters as a means
of partial protection to crops. "

19

The description of this locust, as given by Mr. Scudder, is ae follows:

Brownish fuscous with more or less of ;i cinereous tint. Front of head livid, very
heavily mottled with dark brown; mouth parts pale, the tip of last palpal joint black,
antenna' pale at base, beyond dull reddish more or less tinged with yellow, toward
the tip infuscated. A slender blackish stripe passes from behind the eyes to the
hind lobe of pronotum, sometimes interrupted, sometimes accompanied by an infus-
cation beneath, broadening the band; upper surface more or less decked with dark
brown, sometimes collected into a V-shaped catch opening forward, the apex at the
middle of the posterior lobe; hind border dotted with blackish ; posterior lobe pro-
fusely, rest of upper surface sparsely, all shallowly, punctate: sides of metathorax
with a pale oblique stripe narrowing upward to a point; tegniina blackish or brown-
ish fuscous, flecked rather distantly with brownish spots, relieved by similar pale
ones along the middle; legs of the color of the under surface, the fore and middle
femora a little deeper or duskier; hind femora broadly bifasciate with blackish, the
apex black at the sides; hind tibia- and tarsi yellow, occasionally tinged with red,
paler next the base, with a black annulus; spines black. Vertex broader ( $ ) or
much broader ( 9 ) than the tirst antennal joint, the fastigium with a scarcely per-
ceptible depression ( 9 ) or slightly sulcate ( $ ), broadening in front; frontal ridge
broad, nearly equal, a little sulcate below the ocellus. Median carina of pronotum
slight, distinct only on the posterior and anterior lobe, cut by all the transverse fur-
rows; lateral carinas rather distinct, rounded. Last abdominal segment of the male
a little produced, rounded; cerci very large and stout, compressed, broadening api-
cally, well rounded, very similar to those of IT. ponderosus, but not so broad at the
tip.

Length of body — male, 29.5"im ; female, 34.5mm; of tegmina— male, 21mm; female.
24mm; of antenna? — male, 13.5mm; female, 15mm ; of hind femora — male, 17.6 mm; fe-
male, 21mm.

Melanoplus robustus is also quite closely related to the insect described
by Prof. Cyrus Thomas as Pezotetti.r viola, which occurs in Illinois, Indi-
ana, and Missouri. It is also related to Melanoplus ponderosus Scudd.,
of central Texas.

THE TWO-STRIPED LOCUST.

(Melanoplus bivittatus Say.)

Perhaps the most familiar locust to the greatest number of people in
the United States is the one shown in Fi#. 8, unless it should be the
ordinary Carolina Locust, Bisso-
steira Carolina. Although the
illustration is a pretty fair rep-
resentation of this insect, the fol-
lowing description is inserted for
the benefit of those who wish to
see it :

Fig. S.—Mclanojilia: bivittatus— natural siae (after
Riley).

In this very common species the
vertex of the female is convex or but
slightly depressed, and the frontal costs not sulcate; in the male the frontal costs is

more or less distinctly sulcate. Tegmina and wings hut little longer than the abdo-
men. The last ventral segment of the male has the apical margin entire and circular.
Pronotum with the sides straight, very slightly expanding posteriorly; posterior
cross-iueioion distinct ; posterior femora equal to or passing the abdomen.

20

Dull green or dull brown in color, with a distinct yellowish or pale stripe along
each side extending from the upper angle of the eye, along the lateral angle of the
body to the extremity of the tegmina. Mouth pale, face varies from pale yellowish
to dark olive brown ; as also do the tegmina ; the latter sometimes have a few quite-
small dusky spots on the disk, but generally they are unspotted. Wings transparent,
tinged with greenish or greenish yellow; nerves greenish brown or blackish. Hind
femora generally with a dark stripe along the upper edge of the disk; yellow below;
upper margin with two pale spots ; posterior tibiae variable, ranging from yellow to
dark leaden brown.

Length of body — male 1 inch to 1.4 inches; female, about 1.7 inches, but frequently
larger or smaller.

This locust occurs in nearly every locality over the entire country
from the Saskatchewan River in the north to the Gulf of Mexico at
the south, and from ocean to ocean. It is found in the low valleys
near the seashore and upon the mountain slopes of the Rocky range
and the interior plateaus to an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet above
tide water. In fact, this particular species appears to be able to with-
stand more climatic variations than any other of our North American
species, without showing- marked variations in color and form. In size
it varies more than do some of the allies. No wonder, then, that it
occasionally becomes sufficiently numerous over limited areas to do
considerable injury to crops.

The Two-striped Locust, although it enjoys so wide a range, is usually
limited over this range to certain favorite haunts. Like the femur-
rubrum and differentials, bivittatus m a lover of rank and succulent veg-
etation such as is found upon bottom lands, along the edges of cultivated
fields, at the margins of woodlands, and on the shaded mountain slopes.
When nature has specially favored the species, as it sometimes does, in
the way of favorable climatic conditions, the absence of enemies, etc.,
and it develops in large numbers, then these haunts are forsaken to a
greater or less extent and it spreads over cultivated fields, eating the
choicest of everything. Unlike some of the other locusts of the genus
Melanoplus, bivittatus seldom exhibits the migratory habit in any
marked degree; hence, is always with us and its enemies.

The egg-laying habits of bivittatus differ considerably from those of
the smaller migratory species, insomuch as but one or two clusters or
pods are deposited by a single female. Nevertheless, just as many
eggs are laid by each female insect. These eggs are deposited in
prairie sod or any compact soil in the vicinity of the regular haunts or
feeding places. Old roads and closely-cropped pastures when located
handily are favorite resorts for the heavily-laden females when attend-
ing to this mission of theirs.

Melanoplus bivittatus was very common in a number of localities over
the country during the past summer. In fact, it Avas one of* the prin-
cipal ones that was the cause of grasshopper injuries in the Red River
Valley of the North, in Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York,
Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas, and Nebraska. Conditions which favor
the rapid multiplication of other locusts, such as the migratory kinds,

21

also favor the increase of this one and others of our " native" species.
Hence when we hear of the increase and spread of th<- former, we may
also look for the latter to become more numerous.

By keeping down weed patches and by plowing waste places about
fence corners, along ravines, the edges of groves and old roads, this
insect can usually be kept moderately scarce and harmless.

THE DETESTABLE LOCUST.

Fig. 9. — Mflanopliis fcedus: a, male— natural size;
b, female anal characters — enlarged (original).

(Melanoplti8 fcedu8 Scudd.)

The locust which is known by the above name has not yet become

recognized as one of those which is considered injurious; but its pres-
ence in unusual numbers during
the past two years in portions of
Idaho are sufficient grounds for
including it with these injurious
species. Even if it has not yet
committed such devastation, it
is apt to do so in the near future
should climatic and other condi-
tions continue favorable. It can
at once be recognized from the accompanying illustration (Fig. 0) and
the following description :

Of medium, or rather large size. Head rather large, not elevated, slightly arched.
Eyes pretty large, hut not prominent; vertex between the eyes as broad or half
as broad again as the first antennal joint; foveola shallow or moderate, with low,
stout, nearly parallel hounding walls, and seareely expanding in front; frontal
ridge stout, well advanced, subequal, scarcely enlarged downward, above flat at
the ocellus, and below a little and broadly Bulcate. Proriotum simple, the posterior
lobe coarsely and faintly punctate, expanding very slightly, and, on either side
anteriorly, depressed a little above; the anterior lobe narrowed a little in front,
hut above only; both the transverse sulci equally distinct and continuous through-
out, median carina slight and confined to the posterior lobe, lateral carina- suh-
bbsolete. Tegmina extending a little, or considerably beyond the tip of the abdo-
men. Terminal ventral segment of the male abdomen scoop-shaped, hut slightly
produced at the apex, the edge entire; supra-anal plate triangular, bluntly pointed,
considerably longer than broad, the sides nearly straight, slightly puckered in the
middle; the marginal apophyses of the preceding segment consist of a wavy, de-
pressed, conical, pointed projection diverging at nearly right angles, about half as
long as the cerci. Anal cerci forming very simple compressed lamina', the basal
three-lift lis straight, tapering a little and directed backward and a little upward,
the apical two-fifths also straight, enlarging slightly, keeping the same direction
but bent a little inward, the outer surface a little concave, the extremity squarely
docked, its corners rounded; basal tooth of lower valves of the ovipositor of the
female sharp, triangular, hut much broader than long.

The general color is a dirty cinereous above, a dingy clay below; antenna' dull
testaceous, becoming somewhat ferruginous toward the tip; a pretty hroad and
usually distinct blackish brown or piceous hand extends from behind the eye along
the upper bordei of the deflected lobes of the pronotum as far as the posterior
sulcus, and sometimes as a blurred and expanded continuation of it. across the pos-

22

terior lobe also. Tegniina brownish cinereous, tbe anal field sometimes a little
lighter, the median field enlivened to a greater or less extent, but seldom conspicu-
ously, by an alternation of blackish and pallid longitudinal quadrate spots. Hind
femora dirty clay brown with dusky incisures, above with a median and subapical
dusky or dark fuscous patch; hind tibise red, with black-tipped spines.

Length of body — male, 24mm, female, 30mm; of antennae— female, 12mm, male,
13.5mm; of tegmina — male, 21mm, female, 24mm; of hind femora — male, 14mm, female,
16.5'un>.

This locust is in reality a mountain form that occurs at an elevation
of about 5,000 feet above sea-level, and that frequents the edges of
valleys and sunny slopes within the semiarid portion of the United
States. It is met with iu suitable localities in Colorado, Kansas, Ne-
braska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas,
along with New Mexico.

Although the habits and life-history of this insect has never as yet
been followed out, it is supposed that it does not differ materially from
that of such other species of the genus as inhabit the same regions,
and with which we are more or less familiar. In its general appear-
ance and structure M.foedus is very much like the insect which is known
by the name of Melanoplus packardi Scudder. In met there is but
little difference save in color between the two species.

THE DEVASTATING LOCUST.

(Melanoplus devastator Scudd.)

Quite prominent among the destructive species of the country is the
one known as the Devastating Locust of California. This particular
species is of about the same size as the lesser migratory one, and has

c d

FlG. 10.— Melanoplus devastator: a, large female from California, 1885; b, small female, Reno, Nev.,
1880; c, male, Fort Keogh, Mont., 1880; of, same as c, all natural size (after Trouvelot).

something of the same general form and appearance. The differences,
however, can very readily be detected by the description which follows
and by the illustrations given herewith (Figs. 10 and 11) :

About the size of M. atlanis, and of the same general appearance. Head moder-
ately large and broad, with large but not prominent eyes ; vertex somewhat depressed,
of medium width, quite deeply sulcate in the male, or but gently so in the female;
frontal costa not very prominent but quite broad, the sides gently divergent below,

23

reaching to the clypeus, shallowly sulcate ;it the ocellus. Pronotnm hither nhoti
and broad, slightly expanding on posterior lobe ; median carina prominenl through-
out, cut about the middle by the last transverse impressed line; lateral carinas also
quite prominent and forming right angles \\ ith the disk and sides. Tegmina and
wings reaching beyond the tip of the abdomen in both sexes, but quite variable in
this respect, the former quite narrow. Last ventral segment of the male abdomen
somewhat tapering, with the apes gently notched ; super-anal plate triangular, the
apex acute, middle narrowly grooved one-half its length; marginal apophyses of
preceding segment about half as long as the supra-anal plate, tapering to a point, tie-
inner edges attingent for about one-third their length, their outer edge furnished
with a blunt tooth near the base; cerci slender, equal, straight, nearly lour times as
long as broad, tin; apex gently sulcate from the outside. Prosternal spine broad,
stout, the apex rounded. Posterior femora reaching beyond the tip of the abdomen
iu both sexes.

General color light testaceous to dull cinereous, more or less varied with brown and
dull black. Band back of the eyes very obscure, never continuous, hut confined to

Fig. 11.— Melanoplus devastator.
enlarged (after Emerton).

anal characters of male ; a. from above; b, from side: c, frombelow-

the upper edges of the lateral lobes as two small tapering patches and along the
impressed lines. Tegmina provided with a row of discal quadrate spots and also
usually a few others scattered above and below the central field. Posterior femora
with the usual oblique dark bands; the hind tibiae either dull red or various shades
of green and blue more or less obscured with brown, usually greenish, the spines
black.

Length of body (average specimens) — male, 20nim, female, 22mm ; of pronotum —
male and female, 5mm ; of tegmina — male and female, 18mm; of hind femora, male.
12mn\ female, 11.5mm.

Melanoplus devastator is known to occur at suitable localities through-
out the entire region west of the main divide of the Rocky Mountains,
and even to extend beyond this limit in portions of Montana and Col-
orado. Notwithstanding this rather extended ranges the insect lias
never, to my knowledge, been reported in destructive numbers beyond
the confines of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon. Like several
Others of our North American insects that are included in this brief
report, devastator is rather inclined to frequent the country adjacent
to or among the foot-hills of mountain ranges. It does not usually
deposit its eggs high up t\w hillsides and mountain slopes, but rather
seeks for this purpose waste lands low down in the \ alleys that are
more or less wet. Its growth and transformations are practically the
same as those of spretus and the other species that have so frequently
been described.

24

During' the latter part of the dry season as the herbage and grasses
ripen and dry up these insects gather from the surrounding hills upon
the moist grounds at the margins of the valleys to feed upon the green
vegetation still found at such places. Here also and close at hand the
eggs for the spring brood are laid. Those for the fall brood are laid at
random among the hills. In portions of California and Arizona there
are two broods of this insect annually.* Wherever this is the case,
there is considerable difference in the size and general appearance of
the members that make up these two distinct broods. Those of the
spring brood are larger and of a brighter color than those of the fall
brood.

The difference in size and " freshness" in general appearance between
individuals of the two broods in this and other double-brooded lo-
custs is evidently due to the climatic conditions and to the nature of
the food supply at different times of the year.

THE NARROW-WINGED LOCUST.
(Melanoplus angustipennis Dodge.)

Quite closely related to the preceding is another of our North Ameri-
can locusts of the genus Melanoplus which should be included with the
destructive species. While this insect, which we will call the Narrow-
winged Locust, has never yet, to my knowledge, been sufficiently numer-
ous to materially injure cultivated crops or even the grasses on the

prairies, it has been greatly on
the increase for the past seven
or eight years. As stated in a
former report, " Melanoplus an-
gustipennis, which only a few
years ago was quite rare and
confined to low land along the
Elkhorn River, is now becoming
quite numerous. If the species continues to increase as rapidly during
the next four or five years as it has during the past few, it will be
equally as destructive as femur-rubrum, devastator, atlanis, and differ-
entials. When first described it seemed to be confined almost exclu-
sively to Artemisia ludoviciana as a food plant. Now it seems to take
to almost any food plant that presents itself. This Narrow- winged
Locust is more nearly related to M. devastator than to any of our other
especially injurious species. Should it really become a pest, as present
indications would suggest, its arboreal habit will render it rather a dif-
ficult enemy with which to deal.

Fig. 12. — Melanoplus angustipennis — normal size
(original).

*Mr. D. W. Coquillett in Bull. No. 27, Div. of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agri-
culture (p. 39), states that he has taken both forms of this species in August, 1891,
and believes the species to be single-brooded, and not double-brooded, as stated by
Mr. Brunei.— C. V. R,

25
The following description is that given by the author of the species:

Frontal costa depressed at the ocellus. Head but slightly elevated above the pro-
notum. Foveolaofthe srertex scarcely depressed. Carinaeofthe pronotum nearly
obsolete; the median rut by bhe three transverse incisions. Hind lobe of pronotnm
slightly rngulose. Tegmina extending beyond the abdomen, nnnsually narrow.
Male eerci small, narrow, straight, tip rounded and silicate. Tip of abdomen
notched, as in M. spretus but the notch is wider.

General color light brown. Upper part of pronotum and hind femora with a red-
dish tinge. Face sometimes mottled. Antennae lighl brown, infuscated apically.
The usual black band behind the eye. broad and distinct, and reaching lasl division
of pronotum, bounded below by a narrow white stripe. A broad white stripe from
base of tegmina connects witli a white stripe at insertion of posterior femora, form-
ing a right an<;le. Outside of hind femora crossed by two indistinct dusky hands
that extend upon the upper edge. Lower sulcatum reddish. Knees black. Hind
tibia? blue. Tegmina light brown, with very small black spots in the disk.

Length of body — male, 22.5mm, female, 24"""; of tegmina — male, 17mm, female,
19mm; of hind femora — male, 12. 5"'m, female, 14mm.

As intimated above, this locust at first appeared to be one of the
few species that are confined to special food plants; but now it has for-
saken the single plant and takes up with a great variety of others.
Since its food was originally the Artemisia ludoviviana its distribution
was necessarily limited to regions where that plant flourished. With
the change in its food habits so as to take in other plants it also was
permitted to spread over more country. Xow it occurs both on high
and low lands, but appears to be somewhat partial to old breakings
and well-fed pastures of many years' use. It occurs in eastern Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas.

THE HERBACEOUS LOCUST.

(Melanoplus herbaceus Bruner.)

During the fall of 1887 the writer, while spending a few days at El
Paso, Tex., took a large number of a rather large but slender Melano-
plns upon various kinds of weeds and other low vegetation growing in
the vicinity of the town along
the banks of the Rio Grande.
This locust was present in large
numbers and did some damage.
Like the M. angustipennis, it is
rather an above-ground insect
than a ground frequenter, and
for that reason would be more Fio. 13.-Melonophi9 herbaeeut: a, female-natural
difficult to fight, were it to be- Bize' 6' male anal characters— enlarged (original).

come numerous, than are many others.

Aside from these few notes nothing thither of its lite history and
habits are known to me, but it is presumed that tlie insect does not
differ greatly from the species of the genus with which we are familiar,

The following description of the present species is herewith added,

26

that the insect can the more readily be determined by those who care
to do so for themselves :

A rather large but slender species. About the size of M. spretus, but with much
narrower wings and tegmina. Usually of a light transparent grass-green color, but
changing to a dull olive brown in some specimens during late fall. Related to M.
Jiavidus, M. cinerens, and M. bowditchi, from which species it differs in its smaller head
and more oblique face.

Vertex between the eyes quite narrow, somewhat prominent, the foveola elongate
spatulate, rather deep in the male, less so in the female, the lateral walls strong,
rounded; frontal costa very broad and prominent above, less prominent below, where
its sides converge very perceptibly in the female, parallel in the male, deeply aud
roundly sulcate from just above the ocellus ( 9 ) or throughout ( $ ). Antenna1, very
long in both sexes, longest in the male. Eyes large and prominent, those of the
male subelliptical, of the female with the anterior edges nearly straight. Pronotum
rather slender, rounded above and with the sides nearly parallel or gradually
widening posteriorly; anterior lobes plain, posterior lobe minutely and closely
punctate; anterior edge nearly straight, posterior edge roundly angulate; median
carina present only on the posterior lobe, lateral carinas obsolete; transverse im-
pressed lines plain, continuous, the last a trifle back of the middle. Tegmina and
wings reaching beyond the tip of the abdomen in both sexes, the former rather nar-
row, lanceolate. Terminal segments of the male abdomen but slightly enlarged,
gently upturned ; the last ventral segment prow-shaped, the outer edge entire ; supra-
anal plate subquadrate, the lateral edges raised and somewhat sinuous, the apex
gently depressed and slightly produced ; in the middle there is a broad median carina
terminating between two shorter ones near the apex; marginal apophyses of preced-
ing segment very large, broad and fleshy, covering fully one-half of the underlying
supra-anal plate, their inner edges touching for the first two-fifths of the distance
from their bases and again at their apices, leaving a small, narrow, elliptical opening,
their outer edges parallel, obliquely (locked at the apex. Anal cerci a little more
than twice as long as the basal width, the apical half finger-like, plain, the apex
rounded, directed backwards and slightly inwards. Prosternal spine conical, rather
long and slender, the point directed gently forward. Posterior femora normal, not
quite reaching ( 9 ), or slightly suppressing ( $ ) the tip of the abdomen; anterior
and middle femora but very little enlarged in the male.

General color varying with the season and in different individuals from lightgrass
green to dull olive brown, varied beneath and along the sides of the face, pronotum
and thorax with dull white, yellow, and brown. The usual piceous band, which in
this species reaches to the last transverse incision, is more or less plainly visible
along the sides of the pronotum in different individuals. The tegmina are either
pale green, dull olive, or drab, without spots; the wings with the apical veins and
nerves more or less infuscated. Posterior femora without indications of bands along
their upper edges and outer faces, a rather wide whitish line along the lower edge
of the outer face, and also a tinge of light orange yellow below and on the inner face;
posterior tibia? deep sea-green, the spines with their extreme tips black. Antenna?
reddish inclining to brown apically.

Length of body — male, 22mm, female, 28.5mm; of antenna? — male, 13mm, female,
llmm ; of pronotum— male, 51Iun, female, 6.15mm ; of tegmina— male, 20mm, female, 24mm ;
of hind femora— male, 12.2mm, female, 15mm; of hind tibia? — male, 10mm, female,
13mm.

The present species is confined to the river bottoms in the compara-
tively arid regions of onr southwestern States, and also occurs across
the line in Mexican territory for some distance.

27

Till-; ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST.
(MeUmoplus spretua I'll <

Of all oiii- destructive locusts native to North America this in the
one that has caused the greatest amount of damage, and consequently
attracted to itself the general attention of the public. It is likewise
the best known when life-history, range, habits, etc., are considered.
As already mentioned, its distribution is so well known that it is only
necessary to refer to this feature here. In Bulletin No. 25 of the Divis-
ion of Entomology, a brief, but at the same time, very comprehensive
account of this and several other locusts is given. The reader is there-
fore referred to that publication for a more complete treatise upon the
species now under consideration, also to the reports of the U. S. Ento-
mological Commission for an extended account of its life-history and
habits.

Briefly, the Rocky Mountain Locust can be said to be a permanent
resident of the Rocky Mountain region from northern New Mexico
northward as far as the North Saskatchewan River, or coincident with
the northern limits of the prairies. This range also extends out upon
the adjoining plains, and beyond, so as to include the greater portion
of Wyoming, a little of northwestern Nebraska, more of the western
part of South Dakota, nearly half of North. Dakota, and much of Mani-
toba and other parts of British America west of Lake Manitoba. Of
course the insect is not always to be met with in destructive numbers
over this entire region; but it is within these limits that it is always
to be found in a healthy condition. Adjoining this " permanent v re-
gion on the east is a strip of country of varying width of a hundred or
more miles, that is termed the " sub-permanent " region. The insect is
nearly as healthy and possibly equally as often to be met with here as
in the permanent region. Beyond this secondary habitat is a still
greater extent of country which is only occasionally visited by the
moving swarms of the locust. This last region has on that account
been termed the " temporary n region. . This temporary region covers
all of the remaining portions of the States mentioned above, besides
extending into Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Indian
Territory, and Texas. This region is the one that has suffered most
during past years from the ravages of this locust.
The description of this insect is herewith appended:

Female. — The face nearly perpendicular, sloping under toward the breast wry
slightly. The vertex between the eyes the same width as the frontal costa jusl
above the ocellus: that portion in front of the eyes more or less distinctly channeled
and deflexed at an angle of about 10 degrees from horizontal. Eyes nearly straight
in front, about semicircular behind. Antenna' quite Blender, reaching little if any
beyond the tip of the pronotum. Pronotum, with the sides of the anterior lobes
parallel, the posterior lobe expanding rapidly backward ; median carina? thread-
like, but always distinct on the posterior lobe, usualh obsolete on the anterior
lobes; lateral carina1 obtuse but distinct on the posterior lobe and usually

28

so oil the middle one, but becoming obsolete toward the trout : posterior lateral mar-
gin, perpendicular from tin- humeral (entering) angle one-third the way down.
then curving forward to the posterior lateral angle which is obtuse and rounded'
the (entering) humeral angle is sharply denned, and in this respect differs from Mi
femur-rubrum and M. atlanis; the apex is obtuse-angled (about 100° rounded at the
point; posterior lobe minutely and shallowly punctured throughout; the anterior
lobi - smooth with a few or no punctures except along the lower margins of the sides.
Tegmina and wings extending beyond the Tip of the abdomen from one-fourth to
one-third their length; the tegmina arc oi nearly uniform width throughout
slightly curving upward at Their extremity; wings a little shorter than The Tegmina.
very thin and delicate ; nerves and nervules very slender. Abdomen, and in fact
the whole inseer more slender Than usual in thi- uenus ; but This appearance i-
partly due to the elongated wings: cerci very small, triangular or tooth-shaped,
not extending across The segment on which They rest; valves of The ovipositor quite
prominent, especially the upper pair which are more than usually exserted, -harp at
the tips and deeply excavated above. The posterior femora usually extend to or
about to the tip of the abdomen.

Color. — Reddish brown with fuscous spots. Head and pronotum back to the pos-
terior sulcus, reddish brown, varying in depth of color in individual-: the face some!
times of a lighter and brighter red than the pronotum. sometimes darker, assuming
a dark purplish hue; the posterior loin- ot the pronotum is generally a pale olive
brown, its lighter color contrasting somewhat distinctly with the darker -hades of
the anterior portion. Some individuals exhibit much lighter colors than here de-
scribed, varying from dark brown to a dull yellow. The dark line on the side of tlu-
head and pronotum. usually so conspicuous in the closely allied species, is generallj
obliterated in this species by the dark-brown color; but it usually appears distinctly
in specimens which have been immersed in alcohol, and is also manifest in the pale
individuals, but is broken np by pale spaces and lines, and is rather narrow; the
eyes, -Inning black: tegmina. ash brown, more or less tinged with reddish brown at
the base and fading toward the apex; in the middle field, commencing near the base,
where this field comes to a point, is an irregular row of fuscous dots, usually single
to win-re the thin portion commences, now and then a double dot appearing: from
this point to the apex they decrease in size and distinctness, and spread over the en-
tire width: as a general rule the inner field i- marked with a few fuscous dots: in
some individuals a few quite distinct are seen, in others they are very minute and
dim. and not unfrequently they are entirely wanting. Wings transparent, with a
very slight yellowish tinge at the has.-: nerves and nervules ot the costal area and
apex black; rest pale. The abdomen is generally a glossy brown, with the posterior
margins of the segments pale: venter yellowish or pale brown: sternum pale brown
or yellow; anterior and middle legs usually rufous, but varying from reddish brown
to pale honey yellow. Posterior femora with the disk reddish brown, sometimes
showing dim outlines of oblique band.-: the inner face and lower carina- yellowish]
the latter usually tinged with red: the upper carina and upper portion of inner face
yellowish, marked with three large black spot- or partial bands — one at the base,
the other two equally spaced in the middle area : apex or knee black, or with a black
crescent each side. The posterior tibise vary in color from bright red to pale yel-
low, and in some cases to lduish.

Male. — Differs from The female as follow-; I- somewhat smaller and shorTer. but
the wings are about as long as tho-e of the female: the abdomen is enlarged or
widened posteriorly and strongly curved upward at the apex: The last ventral seg-
ment being elongated, rounded and narrowed upward like the prow o\ a boat, and
is disTinrrly notched at The tip, The lips or lobes somewhat Tubercular in form. This
part oi The apical segment is covered with minute scattering hairs. This notch
forms one of the chief characteristics of the species, at least the most important one
in distinguishing it from ftmur-riibrxm. The supra-anal plate or triangular piece
above the anal opening is sharply bicarinate longitudinally: the tooth-like append-

29

at the base, above, arc narrow and Blender. The cerr-i arc somewhal longer
than the width of the preceding segment, are broad and ilat throughout, tIm- width
equalling two-thirds the length, not suddenly narrowed or constricted, moderately
curved upwards and inwards; roundly narrowed and depressed at the apex. The
prosternal spine (in both sexes is subquadrate and Large at the base, but distinctly
transverse; robust and decidly conical, gradually lessening to a blunt point.

Dimensions: Length of body— male, 22-24mm, female, 25-2*3

of tegmina — male

24-26""", female, 25-27mm; of hind femora— male 12mm, female, 14mm.

THE LESSER MIGRATORY LOCUST.

(Melanoplus atlanis Riley.)

Next to Melanoplus spretus this is the most destructive of our North
American locusts. It is the bisect that has been known to devastate

portions of the New England States at various times during the past
hundred years. It has also been known to occur in destructive num-
bers in various parts of the interior, but chiefly northward.

This Lesser Migratory Locust, as the name implies, is somewhat
smaller than spretus, to which it is much more closely related than to
any of the other destructive locusts described in the present paper. It
is to be distinguished from that species by such characters as are shown
in Fig. 14; and also by its proportionately shorter and narrower wings.

Fig. 14. — Mekmoplus atlanis : anal characters of male; o, from above; b, from side; c, from behind,
enlarged six times (after Emerton).

As is also Implied in its name, it is migratory in habit, but to a much
less degree than is spretus. Iii its distribution atlanis enjoys a much
greater range than does the preceding, and for that matter, perhaps,
than any other of our North American locusts, unless it be the femur-
rubrum. While it occurs over such an extended territory, it appears
to be more partial to hilly or mountainous regions rather than elsewhere.
It seems also to prefer a wooded or mixed country to the open prairie
or plains. It is common in all suitable localities from the Mexican
boundary to the XU\ degree of north latitude, and even beyond — in
some instances nearly reaching the Arctic Circle— while it occurs both
along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

The following original description, along with the illustrations referred
to above, will at once enable the readers to distinguish the species from
all others of our North American insects of this family:

At once distinguished from femur-rvbrum by the notched character of the anal ab-
dominal joint of the male and by the Bhortex, !<•» tapering oerci ; also by the greater

30

wings A on an average nearly one-third their length'

abdomen in the dried specimens: also by the larger and more

^rngs — in all of whieh characters it mnch more closely resem-

rhan famnr-rmkrmm. From sjrne#*#r agair. - I c ace distinguished by

rhe more distinct separation of the dark mark rnnning from the1

p>rothorax and of the pale line from base of wings to hind thigh : also by

tal joint in the male, tapering more suddenly, and by the tiro lobes forming the •

@ marked. From both species is --ingnished not only by its

smaller size but by the deeper, more liTid color of the dark parts, and the pal

low of the light parts, the colors thus more strongly contrasting.

'tmmr-rMbrmm is at once distinguished from the typical

- : : ;': ?:: ' . ". ; . : -.- : • ■ - . - - -

guished fro — it ~ _1 .vnee by its much smaller size and darker, more marbled color-
ing 7 ntrast > _ in the lining specimens, and I hare seen no
: .lens of spretma that at all approach it in. -

: ' '. — - : ." "-. -. . — . : :-:.

female - - - jmrna — male. Wt-^S^0". female. 2€HMaBH1.

As would naturally be expe ted, if one judged from its wide distri-
bution, rl - Jar loco st - fcs - »me variations in its size.
and- - ^ its structure, but i : sufficiently so to rend*

"vll difficult.
In regions where Jf. atfmtis and on r species ftbeg

able brooded perceptible difference in the indi-

viduals of these broods, both in „d color. Both atlatti* and de-

vastator m les " is .difornia it is a common

ocean find the latter insect during October and November ap-

:Iy only ledg .but not much more than one-half the

L wise, in the vicinity of Wash-
_ 11 numbers rry small atlante art to be:

:th. T: s unens are always darker colored

the typical spe - t the early or spring brood; and they also fre-

_ -:eadof red as in «i#/<i m#. I

-liern_/eiiiiir-riii'mjii with the hind tibia*
glauc isinst - : our other Melaoopli. as for exam-

>+plHs minor Send J L pathardi iScudd.. also h

rts either red or bluish green. My collection also contains specimens
- rentiali*. troni California and Arizona, with
red h id - - Mists Is have the tegmiua

and we gs variable in length — some instances occurring wheie

ppendages jiite rudimentary . in other specimens of

loped. Wing length and color of hind
tibi adicate difference in species

:::z bed-leg ;-:-:: i -

-

common gged L ust Melamoplm* femmr-rMbrmm) is prob-

ably the m st generally and widely distributed insect of this ramily in
America. It occurs troni ocean to ocean and troni the extreme north-

31

era range of these insects to Central America. CTnlike several others

of our destructive locusts that are Limited to moderately high altitude-..
this one is a frequenter of low elevations ranging from near sea level
to not much over (>,(>()() feet above. This is true with reference to it
within the Limits of the United States, but in Mexico I have taken ir
at altitudes of 8,000 feet and upwards. Although it is found over so
great an extent of territory, it occurs only al certain suitable Localities
within these boundaries. Its distribution appears to be controlled al-
together by climatic conditions, the chief of which is the presence of a
certain amount of humidity. Like bivittatus and differentialis, it is a
frequenter of low grounds, cultivated fields, shady margins of woods,
etc., where vegetation is rank and tender. On account of these pecul-
iarities in connection with its naturally wide distribution, it has become
our commonest locust in the United States.

The breeding habits of femur-rubrum are such as to especially aid the
insect in its life among cultivated fields, and hence it is that it has be-
come such a general nuisance. Were it not so generally preyed upon
by a great number of different birds, mammals, reptiles, and predaceous
insects, as well as by several parasites, it would be a much greater pest
than it is.

It can readily be recognized from the following description and illus-
tration (Fig. 15):

As compared with spretus the only very marked difference between the females is
the shorter wings of this species, yet there are other slight differences observable
when a large number of specimens are compared, The eyes m. femur-rubrum are
slightly more prominent. The head, pronotum. and sides of the thorax are usually
some shade of olive brown, varying from pale to almost black. The black line be-
hind the eyes is quite broad, seldom broken up, and is distinct in the darkest speci-
mens. The humeral (entering) angles of the posterior margin of the pronotum are
more rounded and not so sharply defined as in spretus; the median carina is usually
more distinct on the anterior lobes, while the lateral carina' are rather more obtuse
and not so well defined : the punctures on the posterior lobe are more distinct. The
wings extend but slightly beyond the extremity of the abdomen, usually less than
one-tenth their length. In this species and atlanis the intercalate vein is present in
the tegmina dimly and imperfectly, it is true, but it can be (dearly distinguished for
more than half the length of its course. In spretus it is wanting, its place being
marked by the line of union between the two rows of cells. The fuscous spots or
dots are not so conspicuous or widely spread over the apical portion of the w ing, and
the tegmina are narrower and straighter. As a very general rule the external face
of the posterior femora is black or brown, the
lower margin and lower half of the inner face
bright coral red; when these colors are well de-
lined there is a yellow space or stripe between the
red and black, but these markings are subject to

Considerable variation, the red being sometimes

... .. ., , .. ,', , , FIG. 15. Mtianoplua femur -rubntm—

entirely wanting, the external face dark, and the natural si,o (after KilevK

lower margin yellow: sometimes the dark is re-
placed by pale olive. The tibiae are most generally bright red. but this character
is not without exceptions. Usually there ie* a pale ray extending from the base of
the wings to the posterior femora, but is occasionally wanting in dark specimens,
and is generally absent in spretus. The pros tern al spine is not so distinctly quadrate

32

at the base as in spretus, transverse, flattened behind, and not regularly conical, but
somewhat subcylindrical to the broadly rounded and very blunt apex.

Male. — The most constant differences between the species is found in the form of
the last ventral segment of the male; in femur-rubrum this segment, although
strongly curved upwards, as in spretus, is not so distinctly narrowed toward the
end, but rounded, and, instead of being notched toward the end, is squarely trun-
cate, presenting a sharp horizontal and almost semicircular margin. Below the tip,
on the posterior face of the segment, is a rather large, transverse, gash-like inden-
tation. The cerci are about the same length as those of the male spretus, and about
the same width at the base. The little tooth-like appendages at the base of the
supra-anal plate are elongate and slender, as in spretus, and are sinuate.

In addition to the characters mentioned in the original description of atlanis, I
would call attention to the following differences between it and spretus on the one
side and femur-rubrum on the other.

Female. — As compared with the female of spretus the wings are shorter, extending
but very slightly beyond the tip of the abdomen, not differing perceptibly in this
respect from femur-rubrum ; the tegmina are narrower, curved upward very slightly
at the apex, very few spots or dots on the apical portion, and these minute and dim ;
the inner field is always immaculate; the posterior half of the intercalate vein ap-
parent. The wings pellucid, but, when living, have, next the base, a bluish-white
tinge; a larger portion of the pronotum nearly always dark. The black stripe on
the side of the pronotum nearly always apparent even in the darkest individuals;
head and anterior lobes of the pronotum with the velvety appearance so marked in
spretus, but here dark or olive-brown without the reddish tinge so common to that
species; the pale, oblique, metathoracic ray usually apparent but often obliterated.

For further differences between this and other species of our destructive locusts,
see ante, under the description of atlanis and spretus.

Unlike the Lesser Migratory Locust and the true or Eocky Moun-
tain Locust, femur-rubrum seldom exhibits the migratory trait in a I
marked degree. True, it will sometimes gather in immense " swarms"
and move in concert, but it never rises to great heights, drifting with
the wind as do the others. The " kerosene pans" or "hopper-dozers"
are admirably adapted as implements of warfare against this locust,
even after it has acquired wings.

THE LEAD-COLOKED LOCUST.

(Melanoplus plumbeus Dodge.)

This hopper approaches more closely to the common red-legged spe-
cies than to any of our other locusts belonging to the genus Melano-
plus ; but it is very readily distinguish-
able from that species by its bright
colors and by its more clumsy move-
ments. In its distribution, however,
plumbeus is confined to the plains of
Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and

Fio. 16.— Melanoplus plumbeus— natural size probably alSO of Kansas; but it is not

(ongmai). generally distributed even here, being

confined to limited areas in certain localities where it is quite common.

Several years ago I found it quite abundant at a point about two

miles south of Canyon City, Colo., so abundant, in fact, that, had it been

A

upon cultivated grounds, it would have injured the crops. But as it
was confined to the gravelly bench lands no apparent damage was done
by it.

The description of this locust as published by Mr. Dodge is as fol-
lows :

Frontal costa silicate only at ocellus. Vertex slightly silicate. Median carina of
pronotum distinct, cut about the middle by last transverse furrow. Hind border of
pronotum angled. Tegmina and wings extend beyond the abdomen. Cerci broadest

at base and straight until near the apex, when they bend upward, and end in a blunt
point. Tip of abdomen rounded.

Color, dark, inclining to blue. Pronotum with a red, longitudinal median stripe.
Black band behind the eye, broadest on pronotum, ending at last sulcus. Yellow
Bpots behind the eye on both sides of black stripe and below the same on side of prono-
tum. Cheeks bordered behind with yellow. Sometimes face yellow, mottled with
blue. A yellow spot at base of anteume, and a yellow stripe following the lateral
carinae of pronotum on hind lobe, runs obliquely across base of tegmina to insertion
of hind femora. Tegmina brown, with a few dusky dots along the disk. Wings
tinged with blue. Upper outside face of hind femora dark blue, the upper edge
crossed by the usual dark bands. Hind tibiae red with black spines. Antenna
light red. Entire under side of insect yellow.

Length of body — male. 21.5mmj female, 25ram. Of tegmina — male, 18mm; female,
20mtn. Of hind femora — male and female, 12.5mm.

PEZOTETTIX ENIGMA Scudd.

There is a normally short-winged locust throughout the region com-
prised of the States of Idaho, Nevada, Washington. Oregon, and Cali-
fornia, which is often very abundant. In fact, it is to be classed among
the destructive locusts of the country, since it appears to be quite
plentiful if not numerous at all times and wherever it occurs.

This locust was described by Mr. Scudder as Pezotettix enigma. At

about the same time he also described

a long-winged form from the same lo- /dt

cality that differs but little from the *^ ^jJtoaji *jl~L \u

enigma save in length of wing. lie rbS^ffe^S^^1^-^^-.

called the long-winged insect Mela no- , j£jp?^Q^^^^^

plus collar!*. Sometime prior to this ^^

Qyrus Thomas described the same in- -^F-*

sect under the name of < 'alopten us /!« vo- Fra' 17-p«»«f"k "»?»'« male-natural

1 size (original)

lineatus. Since the short-winged form

is apparently the typical condition under which the locust now under

consideration occurs, the name enigma will best serve as that for the

species.

The following description of the insect is that given by Scudder:

Pale brownish yellow, marked with darker brown and fuscous. Head large, tumid,
all tin1 angles rounded, the summit darker, with a sometimes inconspicuous median
blackish stripe, broadening from in front backward; vertex between the eyes nar-
rower than ( $ ) or equal to i $ i the frontal costa; fastigium very broadly and shal-
low ly sulcate, most distinctly in the male: frontal costa broad and equal, very
fainth punctate, with a scarcely perceptible narrow sulcus helow the oocelus;
LO66G—N0. 28 3

34

antennae slightly infuscated at the tip. Pronotum short and rather stout, the an-
terior and posterior halves of the deflected lohes nearly symmetrical; dorsum with,
equal sides, quite distinctly tumid on the dorsum of the anterior lobe, the middle
transverse sulcus nearly as close to the prosterior sulcus as to the short one in front
of it. and the posterior lobe fully three-fourths the length of the anterior; posterior
margin angularly rounded; median carina, like in the preceding species, marked in
form like all the transverse sulci; dorsum mottled with dark brown, the lateral ca-
nine marked with a more or less distinct narrow yellow stripe; the anterior margin
of the deflected lobes clear yellow or pallid; prosternal spine straight, small, conical,
bluntly pointed. Tegmina rather broad, ovate, overlapping, the tip scarely pro-
duced, fully half as long as the abdomen, brownish fuscous, marked with yellow
longitudinal veins, and flecked, principally along the median area, but also else-
where, with longitudinal series of subquadrate blackish fuscous spots; wings a lit-
tle shorter than the tegmina. Hind femora stout and full, yellow, the outer face
marked with alternate, narrow, angulate, yellow and black stripes, often fainter in
parts than in others, so as to show a tendency to transverse bands arranged as in
P. jucundus; outer arc of genicular lobes broadly black ; hind tibia3 yellow or green-
ish blue, the apical half of the spines black ; arolium of either sex as in the preced-
ing species (that is, either quadrate, rather narrow, longer than the claws ( $ ), or
obpyriform. small, but little more than half as long as the claws ( 9 )• Abdomen
yellow, the upper portion infuscated, the middle of the dorsum marked frequently
with a series of approximate, subdorsal, roundish, black spots, often inclosing white
spots nearly as large as themselves, those of opposite sides separated only by a slen-
der yellow line; the abdomen of the two sexes has the peculiarities of the preced-
ing species (Pez. jucundus), the last joint of the male being also entire; the anal
cerci of the male scarcely differ from those of that species, the slender apex only
l.eing a little less suddenly contracted.

Length of body— male, 22.5mm, female, 24.4,nm; of antenna?— male, 9.25mm, female,
7.5mm; of pronotum — male, 6mm, female, 6.9nm; of tegmina — male, 8.25mm, female,
10.75mm; of hind tibiae— male, 12.5mm, female, 13. 5mm.

The habits of this locust are not vet very well known, since it has
not been among the few species that have been made the theme for
special study. In 1890, this insect was first seen by me in the central
part of Idaho, about Shoshone and Boise City, where it occurred in
large numbers along with Camnula pellucida, Dissosteira obliterate
Melanophts fcedus and M. atlanis. In ratio of numbers the enigma came
next to pellucida. It was found to be partial in its distribution to the
lower bench lands in and near cultivated fields. What its egg-laying
habits are I can not say. since the females had not yet begun deposit-
ing, although many pairs of the insect were seen and taken in copula-
tion about August 15. Judging from the structure of the terminal por-
tion of the female abdomen, which is Aery blunt, I should suppose that
rather loose, sandy, or loamy soil would be chosen for the purpose of
deposition. Like most of the other destructive species, this locust al-
ways appears at its best during warm, dry seasons.

THE PELLUCID- WINGED LOCUST.
{Camnula pellucida Scudd. )

While the majority of the destructive locusts belonging to Korth
America are members of the subfamily Acridime, we are not entirely
without those which are classified in the subfamily (Edipodinae. Of

three species which are thus classed the Pellucid

important when taken according to the amount of injury I
has been done by them. This locust is, and has been, a common
structive species in ^California, ^Nevada, and Oregon for a number of
years: and more recently has occurred as such in Montana. Id
North Dakota. Minnesota, and .Manitoba. It is found as a com
species over a much more extended territory than that in which ir
appeared as a pest, Bince it is found in Washington, Utah, Wyom

tado, New Mexico, Texas, 8 >uth Dakota, and the u
tricts of the Middle and New England States. This insect is rath*
dweller of mountain valleys and high latitudes than of low elevations
and southern climes. Still, its more recent actions would indicate that
it is remarkably hardy, and that it quite frequently becomes acclimated
in new regions. During the past ten years it has worked its way-
ward troni the valleys of the Gallatin s across the divide Into the valley
of the Upper Yellowstone, and thence down that stream to its mouth,
after which it has followed the Missouri to a point not far from Bismarck.
It has also reached the extreme western part of Nebraska byfollowing
down the Platte River from the mountain districts of Colorado and
Wyoming. Its range in British America is probably clear across the
continent, and as far to the northward as the Peace River at least.

The insect is fairly represented at Fig. 18. Scudder's description is
also given herewith-:

Ash brown; fad- reddish brown ; antenna- yellowish at base, dark brown toward
tip; a triangular black spot behind eye, the apex touching it: a quadrate trans1
black spot on the anterior upper portion of the sides of the pronotum; pronotum

oetimes with a dark band down the middle; tegmina or wing-coi
the basal ball' dark brown, with >inall yel-

iid trans1

cially on front border : apical half clear, with

brown rounded spots, prevalent along

aing in >i/e toward tin-

when closed, the upper surface is dark

a, with a rather broad yellowish vitta

along cadi angle on the upper surface;

ga pellucid, with black nervules; _- oral size; 6, anal characters of ma]

dark brown, the hind femora yello - :iial-»

Lsb brown, with two or three rather broad diagonal dark browi dark

at the apex; hind tibiae yellowish brown, reddish toward the tip. with a verj
generally faint, annulation of dark brown at th<- base; spines tipped

Length of body, male, L6.25 : : of female, 25 ; spread of wings, male, 3
female,

The habits and life-history of this locust aivn.it so well known as
are those of several others of our species, but can best be compared
with those of Melanopluh ttpretus, which has so often beeu d- -
The eggs are laid in similar pod-like sacs in the ground, there b<
about 25 to 30 to the pod. More than a single batch are laid by e
female, the intervals between the layings varying from eight day*

36

two weeks. Tliese batch early in the spring and develop by a series
of five skin molts between the time of leaving- the egg and the appear-
ance of the perfect winged individuals. As a rule, pellucida prefers and
remains upon damp meadow lands among the hills and mountains;
but when it becomes unduly common it shows decided tendencies
toward migrating, and then spreads out over the adjoining country into
grain fields, garden, and pasture lands, just as do most of our other
destructive species when they become excessively numerous. Thus far-
this locust can not be said to have shown a tendency to move in cer-
tain directions in preference to others at given times of the year, as
does the Rocky Mountain or true Migratory Locust of the United
States. A further study of the Pellucid-winged Locust will, without
doubt, add many new facts in relation to its life-history and habits that
we do, as yet, not know.

THE LONG-WINGED LOCUST OF THE PLAINS.

(Dissosieii'ci longipennis Thomas.)

Fig. 19. — Dissostcira longipennis: a. female — natural size; b, anal characters — enlarged (original.)

Perhaps the greatest surprise to entomologists in the shape of injuries
caused by locusts in this country was that occasioned during the past
summer by the insect named above. Although it has been known to
entomologists for twenty years, and has been twice described, this locust
has been considered as belonging with our rarer representatives of the
family of locusts. As stated in the preceding pages of this report,
longipennis is rather restricted in its range, being found only upon the
plains of western Nebraska, Kansas, southeastern Wyoming, eastern
Colorado, and northeastern Xew Mexico, at an elevation of from 3,500

61

fco6,000fee1 above sea level. Ii is also known to occur, for the most
part, upon the gravelly slopes where vegetation is quite sparse.

During the autumn of 1876, when the true Migratory Locust was pass-
ing over the eastern part of Nebraska, a large specimen of this long-
winged 'hopper was seen to alight at West Point, in that State, where
thewriterwas at the time engaged in hay-making. !t was captured
and shortly afterwards described as CEdipoda nebrascensis. This is the
only record of the insect having been taken so far away from its native
region as since ascertained. Several years later, August, 1881, while
Spending some time in the vicinity of
Greeley, Colo., this species was very
frequently met with both to the north-
ward and southward of the town,
upon the bench lands, in company
with Tropidolophus formosus, a very
striking species of locust. Again, in

1889, while collecting specimens of

Fig. 20. — Dissosteira longipennis: a. male— nat-
ural size; b, anal characters— enlarged (orig-
inal).

various kinds in tin1 extreme western
part of Nebraska, a few individual
specimens of this insect were taken; while, a year or two previously, it
was obtained from Prof. F. W. Cragin. of the Washburn College, lo-
cated at Topeka, Kans., who collected it in Barbour county, in that
State.

This insect is well represented in the accompanying illustrations,
which show it with and without spread wings, Fig. 19, being that
with them spread, and Fig. 20 that in which it is shown with them
closed. The following description will render its determination quite
easy:

Tegmina and wings longer than the body; the former spotted with brown, the
latter blue at base, but gradually becoming black toward the disk.

Vertex between the eyes broad; middle foveola circular, open in front with a
slight median carina; frontal costa rather narrow, somewhat expanded at the ocel-
lus. Bulcate, expanding at lower extremity. Lateral facial costa nearly parallel
with frontal. Median carina of the pronotum crested, as in Dt8808teira Carolina,
only much higher; cut in front of the middle by last transverse incision of prono-
tum. Posterior part highly arcuate, anterior part nearly straight. Lateral carina1
slight, approaching a little in front of middle, where they are cut by two transverse
incisions; then running parallel to median carina to base of occiput. Posterior
margin of pronotum a little less than a right angle; the front margin advancing
slightly upon the occiput. Tegmina moderately wide, slightly arcuate in front,
nearly straight behind ; about one-third longer than the abdomen. Wings about
one eighth of an inch less, <|uite broad. Posterior femora not or but slightly chan-
nelled below, not quite reaching the tip of the abdomen in the female, or very
slightly surpassing it in the male. Antenna- aboul as long as the head and prono-
tum combined.

Color brow nisli testaceous. 1 lead and pronotum cinereous, w ii h a greenish tinge.
Clypeus lurid. Tegmina dirty yellow, spotted with brown, the spots on outer half
running together so as to form irregular narrow bands; median vein brown half its
length, bordered by yellow: spots on inner portion large. Wings bluish at base for
about one-fifth their length, outer third yellow , sprinkled with brown spots at apex.

38

the disk black. Posterior femora crossed on the outer face by two light-brown
bands; internally by two black bands. Apex black. Posterior tibia1 yellow, with
dark spines. Venter yellow. Dorsum blue with a yellow spot on center of each of
segments 1—4. remainder brownish. Sides brown, antenna3 rufous.

Length of body— male. 28.5mm, female, 43mm; of tegmina— male, 31.5m,n, female,
47mm. 0f posterior femora — male, 16mm, female, 21mm; spread of wings — male. 67
female, 100mi".

As would naturally be supposed, if we were to judge from the ample
wings with which it is provided, this insect is an excellent flyer. It has
shown a tendency to migrate during the past summer in Colorado, and
is reported to have come into that region from the southward in
1890 prior to egg laying. These latter are deposited in the hard
uncultivated ground in the localities most frequented by the mature
insects. Whether or not more than a single cluster of them are laid
by each female I have not yet ascertained. After hatching that
spring, the young began feeding in droves, taking everything in the
shape of grasses clean as they went; and at night, when not feeding,
they clustered together upon the ground which they had bared.
Although the insects were not so very numerous over the particular
region examined by me, they nevertheless exhibited a decided desire for
moving; still, they did not appear to want to leave the areas of bared
ground above mentioned. Accordingly the country roads and edges
of plowed fields were in great demand by them. During daytime the
locusts would work out into the grasses for a few rods and feed, but as
evening approached they reentered the plowed fields, roads, and other
spaces not covered with vegetation. Judging from what 1 had seen of
the insect on former occasions, and knowing something of the habits
and haunts of the mature form, I was led to believe that the great
amount of rainfall and consequent luxuriant growth of vegetation over
the entire region during the spring and early summer had much to do
with the massing of this insect upon these bared areas. Even the bared
areas about the nests of the red ant that builds the dome-like nests of
small gravel of common in the region west of the one hundredth
meridian, frequently formed centers about which droves of considerable
size gathered. Such areas about ants1 nests were frequently seen that
had been enlarged to from several yards to a number of rods in diameter.
[Further to the southward, where Messrs. Snow and Popenoe had spent
a week or more among the species, the insect was much more numerous
and occupied the whole territory: hence these characteristics just men
tioned were not so readily noticed.

The food habits of the Long- winged Locust of the plains appeal- to
be rather limited, when compared to that of the Eocky Mountain and a
few other species of these insects that are older acquaintances. Both
my own observations and those of Messrs. Snow and Popenoe indicate
that this insect is, so far at least, a decided epicure, and will only feed
upon certain grasses native to that region where it occurs. These are
the Grammas (Bouteloua) and the Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactylohles)

39

Aside from these grasses, only a few instances are on record of its hav.
nig injured cultivated crops, and these arc only when the special food*
plants had given out. Whether or not this same habit will continue.
(should the locust become habitually a pest, can not be foretold.

The habit of gathering or massing upon bared places, along wit:
clumsy nature, renders it an easy enemy to figh't with the '.
pans, etc. Hence.it can be easily controlled in future when desired.

Fig. 21. — Dissosteira obliterate: a. male — natural size:
b. female anal characters — enlarged (original).

THE PALE- WINGED LOCUS!*.
Dissosteira obliterate Tims'.

Last year (1890) while investigating' the Pellucid -winged Lo<
plague in central Idaho, a number of specimens ofa large ample- wii
species were observed among the pelludd-a in various places on the^
Shoshone side of the low mountain range lying between the Snake
River Plain and the Camas Prairie. Upon capturing specimens of
this locust it was found to
be the insect which Prof.
Cyius Thomas described as
tEdipotla obliterata. Later
in the course of that expe-
dition this same locust was
met with in large numbers
in the foothills lying to the
south of Boise City. In that
particular locality this, with two other species of locusts, had al:
entirely denuded the ground of its covering of grass vegetation. The
other,species were the Melanoplus foedus and Pezotettix enigma.

Dis808teira obliterata also occurs in Oregon. Nevada, and California.
in all of which States it is quite plentiful over limited areas. It is a very
variable insect as far as color goes, and has been described under an-
other name by M. Henri Saussure in his Prodromus GEdipodioruin.
This name is Dissosteira spurcata.

Its habits, whih- not positively known, are supposed to be very simi-
lar to those of Dissosteira longipennis. It is a native of the semi-arid
•us of the States where found, and frequents rather elevated, grav-
elly, or sandy hillsides where the vegetation is composed of various
Short grasses which thinly clothe the surface. When disturbed it i
from the ground with apparent ease and flits along on its ample wings
to a considerable distance before realighting.

The following description will enable one t<> recognize it:

Mali and Female.— Length to tip of tegiina, 1.50; to tip of abdomen, 1.10 to
inches. Pale reddish-brown or dull yellowish, tinged with rufous, with irreg
erse hands of dark fuscous spots.

Occiput not prominent. Vertex broad, moderately dedexed margins, with sharp
carina? forming a distinct suhquadrate, median foveola, which is divided into
equal sections by a distinct longitudinal median carina that extends back

40

way upon the occiput ; sides of the foveola parallel "between the eyes, and bending
abruptly inward toward the fastigium in front, continuous with the sides of frontal
costa ; fastigium with a double indentation. Frontal costa slightly sulcate, subtri-
carinate at the fastigium, widening at the ocellus, and extending nearly or quite to
the clypeus, but not expanding below. In the male the width is about uniform
throughout. Pronotum with the median carina subcristate, distinctly and deeply
notched about the middle by the posterior sulcus; anterior portion irregularly
arched, more elevated than the posterior portion, which has only the front part
arched ; lateral carina? irregular and indistinct. The notch of the median carina is of
the oblique type, more distinctly so in the male than in the female. Posterior lobe
expanding rapidly from the posterior sulcus; nearly flat on the disk, which is more
or less covered with elongate rugosities, more distinct and numerous in the female
than in the male; posterior extremity obtuse-angled; anterior margin extended in a
very obtuse angle upon the occiput. Tegmina extending about one-third their
length beyond the abdomen, of medium width, sinuous, and obliquely excised at tip.
Wings narrow, the length very nearly twice the width, and slightly undulate on the
outer margin; the nervules unusually regular and straight. Posterior femora witl
sharp and elevated carina? above and below. Antennae rather short, scarcely flat-
tened, and very slightly acuminated at the tip.

Color. — Female somewhat darker than the male ; face pale purplish, dotted with
fuscous; occiput aud pronotum fuscous brown, the latter with a carneous stripe
along each lateral carina, which connect at the anterior sulcus and fade out near the
posterior extremity; the disk of the posterior lobe dark brown. Tegmina pale dirty
yellow, slightly tinged with rufous, crossed by three irregular bands formed of dark
fuscous spots, the middle one broadest and usually the best defined; apex with ir-
regular cellular fuscous spots, those next the costal margin most distinct. Wings
pellucid, with a narrow marginal, rather pale, fuscous band, commencing behind
the subcostal area, where it is broadest, narrowing and fading toward the anal
angle; the nerves and nervules, except in the apical portion of the subcostal area
and in the fuscous band, pale yellow or white. Posterior femora crossed externally
and internally by three oblique fuscous bands ; posterior tibia? pale yellow, spines
tipped with black.

o