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

Bulletin No. 2.

REPORTS OF OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST

AND THK

CHINCH BUG-,

TOGETHER WITH

EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIVISION
ON MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS.

AN' A S 1 1 1 N ( i T ON.
GOV E BNM E N I P B l N TING 0 1 PIC B

9676 1 8 8 3 .

LETTER OF Sl'HMITTAI

Department of Agriculture,

Division of Entomology,

Washington, I). ('.. January 18, l£

Sir : I have the honor to submit for publication the second Bulletin
from this Division, prepared under your instructions.
Respectfully,

C. V. RILEY,

Entomologist.
. Hon. George B. Loring,

Comm issioner of Agriculture.

IXTROD U C T I O X .

This Bulletin includes the report by Mr. Lawrence Bruner of his ob-
servations in the Northwest during the summer and fall of 1882; some
memoranda of experiments with kerosene emulsions on the Chinch Btfg
by Prof. S. A. Forbes. State Entomologist of Illinois, and which he baa
kindly sent to the Department because undertaken at our suggestion;
and extracts from the correspondence of the Division.

The general scarcity of the Rocky Mountain Locust ( Calopten us spretus),
observed by Mr. Bruner in the regions explored, tallies with the obser-
vations made by others in the West and Northwest during the same
period, so far as we have any knowledge thereof. Dr. C. A. White, on
behalf of the Geological Survey, traveled up and down the Yellowstone
Valley for 100 miles from its confluence with the Missouri ; 50 miles up
and dowu this latter stream, from the mouth of the Yellowstone, and 50
miles east of Gleudive, on the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
During this field-work he very kindly made observations on C. spretus.
Very few were seen near the mouth of the Yellowstone, and but a few
in the air during a portion of a single day in the latter part of August.
No memorandum of the direction taken by these was made. Prof. Samuel
Aughey has also furnished the following notes :

On June 21, 22, and •>:'>, I was in the North Loup Valley, between Saint Paul and
Ord, and beyond, 35 miles. . Duriug these days a few Locusts were flying from the
northwest towards the southeast. A few dropped here and there, so that there was
no mistake as to the species. There were not enough to do any material damage even
had they all alighted. I have made diligent inquiry in all directions, but tailed to tind
where they migrated to. Some cow-boys whom I met stated that a few hatched in
the sand-hills south of the Niobrara, or between the latter stream and the headwaters
of the Loup. If this could be confirmed it might be inferred that those seen migrating
came from that locality.

On August 21, I encountered a'few locusts on top of Rattlesnake Mountain. Said
mountain is 85 miles or thereabout north of Rawlins, on the Onion Pacific Railroad.
Height of mountain. 6,900 feet above sea-level (by my barometer). They were coming
from the northwest.

A week Later 1 found a few scattered over the ground ;it the head and along the

valley of Powder River. I also found a very few on September 2, near Searghtfs
Ranohe, on the North Plat be, about :r> miles aort h of the mouth of Sweet water B

This is a 'meager account, but I was on the lookout all the season, and found no

Caloptenm spretus elsewhere.

Dr. H. A. Hagenand Mr. Samuel Benshaw, who were also out during
the same period on a tour of investigation for the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, in Montana and Washington Territory, have informed as that,

6 BULLETIN NO. 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

though diligently looking for this particular locust, and inquiring of all
settlers about it, they found comparatively few, and heard of nothing
as to its injuries during the year. These facts, together with Mr. Bruner's
full report, justify the belief that the Western farmers have little to fear
from the inroads and devastations of this pest the present year, 1883.
In the general correspondence of the Division there is frequently
matter and experience of interest and importance both to agriculturists
and to entomologists. In these bulletins, in the future, we propose to
make use of such as would seem worthy of publication, giving both the
letters and the replies thereto in as condensed form as possible.

C. V. E,

REPORT OF OBSERVATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST ON THE ROCKY

MOUNTAIN LOCUST.

Bv Lawrence Brunkr.

Washington. 1). C., December 1. 1882.

Sir : Herewith I submit a report of my trip to the Xorthwest during
the past summer, made uuder your direction, for the purpose of procur-
ing additional data and facts in reference to the history and habits of
the Kocky Mountain Locust (Caloptenus spretus), and particularly such
data as would permit of definite conclusions as to the prospects for the
year 1883.

In company with Mr. J. H. Mockett, jr., of Lincoln, who acted as my
assistant, I left West Point, Nebraska, on the 20th of June, going by
rail to Bismarck, Dakota, and from this point proceeded by river to
Fort Benton, Montana, stopping off at such points as we thought would
be of interest in the furtherance of our projects.

On our arrival at Fort Benton we learned that the only practical
route by which to reach Fort McLeod, British America, was by stage
direct from this point. We accordingly chose this means of reaching
that point, knowing that, although not exactly what you desired, it
would take us through at least a portion of the country suitable for and
at times occupied by C. gpretus for breeding grounds.

On reaching Fort McLeod we found matters so entirely opposite to
what we had anticipated they would be, that we not only deemed it de-
sirable, but also profitable, to ourselves to seek quarters outside of mili-
tary reign and closer to the mountains. We accordingly embraced the
first opportunity, and went up to the old Government saw-mill. r> miles
to the westward, where we went into cam}). At this locality we remained
four weeks, devoting the time to the objects of the trip. Here we also
had a boat built in which to reach the lower Saskatchewan. Ot' course
we might have accomplished the same object by team with guide and
outfit; but we concluded that this would have been too expensive m
this region. The river journey also offered several inducements that
the other did not. viz.. an opportunity of examining the country on both
sides of the river, while, ;it the same time, all risk of losing the outfit
by theft, which would be liable to occur by team, was avoided.

After proceeding along the Saskatchewan as far as the mouth of
Seven Persons' River, we came to a settlement called Medicine Hat.
Here we learned that Port Walsh could be reached without difficulty.

8 BULLETIN NO. % ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION.

After several days' halt we succeeded in securing the use of a team
and driver with which to reach a point from which we could again
reach settlement. We therefore abandoned our boat and started across
the country. On arriving at Fort Walsh we replenished our provis-
ions. From here we struck off across the country to the eastward, and
after a tedious drive of ten days reached the end of the track on the
Canadian Pacific Railroad. Here we took the cars, by which we reached
Winnepeg, and subsequent!}" home.

It will be seen from the above sketch of our trip that a considerable
portion of the country which you had mapped out as being worthy of
traversing previous to my starting was not reached. This was in part
unavoidable, on account of the difficulty of obtaining means of trans-
portation, and also on account of the limited amount of funds at my
disposal.

Throughout the country which we did examine, however, the surface
characteristics were much as indicated in the large map published in the
second report of the Commission, especially as to the burnable and non-
burnable portions.

In making this trip I was aided materially by the liberality and kind-
ness of the following companies, corporations, and individuals :

The Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway Company, for half-
rate fares for myself and assistant ; the [Northern Pacific Railway Com-
pany, free pass for self and assistant ; the Coulson Line of steamers,
reduction in rates ; Colonel Chipman, commander at Fort Buford, for
hospitalities and other favors ; United States Quartermaster Depart-
ment, for transportation on steamer General Sherman ; Lieutenant Rob-
inson, at Rocky Point, for hospitalities ; I. G. Baker & Co., at Fort
McLeod, for favors.

I must not forget also to mention the officials here in Washington,
who kindly furnished me with letters of introduction.

The report, as you will notice, is in the form of a diary for the first
few pages, after which it takes the form of a narrative.
Respectfully, yours,

LAWRENCE BRUNER.

Prof. C. V. Riley,

United States Entomologist.

Sioux City, Iowa, June 21, 1882. — Reported case of broom-corn and
sugar-cane saving corn and vegetables from the attack of C. spretus
(D. H. Talbot). One case of this kind noted by above-named gentle-
man, and tried by another to whom he (Talbot) imparted the informa-
tion, with like result.

The manner in which the first case was arranged is as follows : On
the north was first planted a strip of broom-corn ; next potatoes and
vegetables, or only potatoes; next to the potatoes was a strip of sugar-
cane and then vegetables, after which came corn. It is claimed that

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN 1^82. \3

when the locusts struck the northwest corner of the field as thej came

from that direction with a northwest wind, they drifted by to the west,
avoiding all that portion of the fi<-ld to the leeward of the sugar-cane

and broom-corn, hut taking everything elean diagonally across where
the field was unprotected by these two plants; the supposition being

that the wind in passing over these plants carried with it something

offensive either to the sense of scent or taste of the locust. The wild
grasses of the genus Sorghum, of which several varieties occur in the

West, are also shunned by this insect.

Mr. Talbot also claimed that quite a number of young locustfi had
hatched and were now batching in the hills lying to the east and north
of Sioux City.

Had not much time or would have none out and examined them to
see whether or not they were G. spretus.

Bismarck. Dal:., June 24. — To-day we were out on the hills in the
vicinity of the city, and found some C. spretus, mostly all fledged and
in healthy condition; a few other species, as ('. occidentalism II<
CU8 coralipes. Stenobothrus, &c. C. spretus is quite common but not
numerous : no damage anticipated.

Between Bismarck and Fort Buford. at various wood-stations, C\
spretus and other Caloptenus larvae and pupa? were noticed, but nowhere
in great numbers. At Fort Buford, June 29 and 30; young locu>
numerous species quite plentiful in the hills and flat lying to the north
and northwest of the post. C. spretus most numerous where vegetation
is rankest. •

Geonietrid larvae found on a wild gooseberry bush in hills north of
here.1 Yucca moths (Pronuba yueeaseUa Riley) quite abundant on blos-
soms of Y. angustifolia; also several species of ants that appear to con-
gregate for sweets exuded by plant. None of latter saved.

Some Meloidse found on the blossoms of sunflower and thistle.2
one species of Bee-fly. Latter quite common though not abundant.

Lepidoptera quite scarce. Only a few diurnals noticed, chiefly Pyra-
ntel hunt era.

June .'JO.— Collected, on low grounds near the riverj some Oleridffi on
flowers. Also some Hymenoptera from weeds, where they were appar-
ently for the purpose of destroying insects. Caloptenus birittatus quite
common, and even numerous at some places on the bottom lands, where
they feed upon rank vegetation, weeds, &c, just ;^ they do in Nebraska
and Iowa.

Mosquitoes numerous enough to interfere with work: very ravenous
in their attack. Old settlers, however, mind them but little.

Fort Buford, July 1. — Were in hills north of here, and found some
interesting <'icin<icli<la among ravines in bad-lands, quite numerous,'

Eufitchia ribearia (Fitch),

ana Lee. ami I I <■<•.

■ t' S\ stoechus and Triod

10

but hard to capture on account of their activity.4 No locusts except
natives aud a few C. spretus not yet fledged.

Noticed today for the first time the possibility of the common Prickly
Pear or Leaf Cactus being insectivorous in a measure. When anything
touches the stamens while spread, they all close very quickly and retain
it within their grasp until a peculiar viscid secretion is ejected. •

July 3. — Visited again the bad-lands in quest of the above-meutioued
Cicindelida?, and succeeded in obtaining a few additional specimens.
As noticed before, they were very hard to capture.

On the 4th saw a few locusts in the air — not more than two dozen.
They were flying north.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY AT AND ABOUT FORT BUFORD.

The surface at Buford is quite level, and is covered well with grasses.
A few miles (varying from two to three) back from the river, the surface
becomes rolling, and gradually very rough and almost destitute of veg-
etation, forming what is known in this vicinity as "bad-lands." There
were locusts at this locality during the summer of 1878, though in what
numbers and particulars of flights I was unable to learn. Also in 1873.

Bad-lands comprise the water- worn edge of a high plateau that ex-
tends northwest and southeast for several hundred miles. This plateau
is well grassed and watered during the fore part of summer, and affords
an excellent breeding ground for various species of locusts. In the fall
of the year, aud even in late summer, this entire country can be burned
over.

On approaching Mouse Eiver Valley the bad-land feature is again
presented, and forms the eastern escarpment to this plateau — " Plateau
du Coteau du Missouri." Of course spring burning could be very suc-
cessfully done here, especially if the growth standing was that of two
or more years. That Caloptenus spretus does occasionally breed over this
entire region in great numbers there can be no doubt, but that it is not
a permanent place of multiplication seems evident from the data obtained
while at Fort Buford.

In reference to* the possibility of this insect continuing to breed in
this locality from year to year, or for an indefinite period, I must con-
fess that I cannot see why it could not, unless it be in the variability
of humidity during different seasons.

After leaving Buford the surface along the Missouri Eiver differs but
little from that farther down the river, sometimes widening into exten-
sive and fertile valleys, and at other places closely hemmed in by the
towering buttes and water-worn hills. The Missouri winds its way
through bad-lands or plateaus, the edges of which are " bad-lands."

The formation of which the surface deposits of this section of country
are composed is that of a vast shallow inland sea at times, and at others

Cicindela cinctipennis Lee.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCU8T IN 1- 11

of brackish or other marshes, id which, or around which, grew luxuriant
forests, the remains of which arc now bo be seen in the numerous reins
of lignite coal that are exposed wherever fche edges of hills have been
worn by water, and also in fche numerous petrified trunks of trees that
are imbedded in the soil of the bluffs.

At various localities these imperfect coal veins have Taken fire and -..
baked the overlying clay as to render its color that of brick-dust. This
has occurred either by accidental tires, or oftener by Spontaneous com-
bustion caused by the chemical action inherent in the alkali soil of which
the over- and under-lying strata are composed.

Up the river from Fort Bnford this formation is gradually replaced by
one of different character. The whitish bluffs are replaced by those of
a darker color, and those the character of whicli is quite different En
stead of being sharp-cut, they are more rounding and almost entirely
destitute of vegetation, the only plants being a few small species found
chiefly on the sea-beach or on alkali flats. The soil is very loose and
fragile when dry. and exceedingly tenacious when wet. It is what is
known as (/umbo. Throughout this formation from top to bottom are
found many concretionary rocks that have for nuclei various specif- •>'
Cephalopod mollusks, as Ammonites. Scaphifces, Baculites, &c.

The surface of this formation affords but poor footing for the multi-
plication of locusts. But as the mouth of the Mussel Shell River is
approached, these characters become less permanent, and small areas of
good grass are to be seen on the uplands and gently sloping hills that
lie on each side of the river. Here, too, in some of the deeper and
more shaded canons, are to be seen small clumps of pines and juniper
trees. At this locality we can truthfully assert that sometimes ('. spretm
breeds. The farther this way (up stream) we come, the more pines
and grass — good grass on bench-lands. Numerous locusts of different
species arc found here. The farther up or the closer you draw to tin-
mountains, the more numerous become the species and individuals of
these native locusts. No specimens of G. spretus were seen this side <>:
the Little Rockies. True, that form known as Melanoplus devastator is
frequently to be met with along the river bottoms among the rank \
ration, where its habits resemble those of G. differentialis. It seldom
alights upon the ground, always jumping from one plant to another, as
do various species of Acridium.

Ai Rocky Point, or what is known as Broadwater's Landing, we laid
over a few da\ s in order to visit the Little L\>ck\ Mountains and the
country adjacent to them. At this locality are numerous exposun
the Cretaceous rocks — ver\ likely that group known as the Fort Pierre.
Throughout the clays of which this formation Is composed are great
quantities of gypsum and concretions, in the center oi' which latter are
various species of shells. &c. Like the greater portion of the country
already passed over, this vicinity also partakes of the •• bad -Iruid" char
acter, though it contains a few small groves of pines that tend to di-
minish the monotony.

12 BULLETIN NO. 2, ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION.

July 11.— Early this morning we started for the Little Eocky Mount-
ains, which lie about 25 or 30 miles to the northward. In going out to
them we at first wound about among the pine-dotted bills for three or
four hours, and finally came out ou a high plateau covered with good
grasses. This sloped gradually back to the base of the mountains, where
it is quite well watered by various small streams that issue from the
canons and sink into the adjoining flats. There are several thousands
of acres of good grazing land, with smaller areas capable of tillage, in
the immediate vicinity of the mountains, but as the plains are traversed
the soil becomes less fertile and more arid as well as alkaline.

Away from the mountains the summer rains are few and the winter
snow-storms severe.. While this section appears to be pretty well inter-
spersed with bad-lands and alkali wastes, it is in reality one of the best
grazing regions in Montana, being the chief winter range for the buf-
falo and antelope, as well as other game.

During the present and for several seasons past but very few migra-
tory locusts have been noticed here or at any point between the Mis-
souri and Milk Eivers, but during the years of great abundance of these
insects this locality was one of its favorite haunts. Other species were
never very numerous, and at times are even scarce.

This season I was unable to find more than two or three dozen speci-
mens of locusts duriug the day and a half spent in collecting at this
point.

These mountains are well timbered in most parts, but not with trees
of large size or free of limbs. Other vegetation (as shrubs and herbs)
is quite abundant, as in all other mountainous or rolling countries where
a considerable amount of rain falls. The rocks are chiefly slates, sand-
stone, and limestone, and show some signs of volcanic action. There
are some quartz leads bearing traces of iron, lead, and copper, as well
as some of the precious metals. There are several thermal springs in
the vicinity of the highest peak of the range. This peak is the only one
which we ascended, and that only a little over half way up. We gave
this peak the name of our esteemed chief, who has done so much in
ascertaining the facts and in solving economic problems in reference to
the Eocky Mountain Locust. Riley's Peak stands out in front of the
main range near the head of Little Eocky Creek and to the right — one
of the most imposing land marks for many miles about. It was on the
lower slopes of this mountain that we killed two bears — one Silver-
and tipped the other a Cinnamon — after an exciting skirmish with three
of these denizens of the mountains.

These springs of which I spoke above are not hot, but of about the
temperature of brook water in summer.

Our collections at this point were small, as insects of all orders ap-
peared to be very scarce.

July 17; — To-day our journey lay along a piece of river very much
superior to that passed heretofore. Numerous signs of volcanic action

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN 1882. 13

were present on all sides; great crevices were filled with dark basaltic
columns, and walls of the same, were at many points objects of uracil
interest and comment to the passengers.

This evening, at the mouth of Judith River, while taking on wood, I
noticed a great many yellowish-green larvae feeding on almost every
variety of vegetation to be found at the locality. The willows (Sali.r
longifolia), however, seemed to be its favorite food, as they were com
pletely defoliated. I do not know what species the insect was, but have
sent some on to Washington.5 At this same locality I noticed two
specimens of Caloptenus very closely allied to .sjrrctus, if not this insect,
but could not get them, as they jumped away and were lost among the
rose bushes.

July 19. — To-day landed about three miles below Fort Benton, and
walked up to town over the bluffs on the north side of the river. Saw
a great many insects of different kinds, and collected some. Locusts
much more numerous here than below. No migratory specimens among
the other forms, but a few that appear to me to be new to science.

During our stay at Fort Benton much of our time was occupied in
collecting the various locusts to be found in the vicinity, and also in
looking for Yucca moths, &c. No data in reference to locusts additional
to those already possessed from this locality. On our trip to McLeod
we occasionally saw specimens of a large, dark- winged, (Kdipoda-like
locust6 as well as a few others which we could not stop to capture; but
very few of the migratory kind among these. Country between Ben-
ton and McLeod is all high, dry, and alkaline, and is for the most pari
an excellent breeding ground for all kinds of locusts. The water in a
great many of the isolated springs contains a large per cent, of sulphate
of magnesia, and hence is very trying on the traveler, since it is (he
only water to be obtained. The grasses over this stretch of country
improve in quality and length as we move northward, and also as we
approach the mountains.

The general surface is comparatively smooth and slopes gently away
to the east, only becoming broken and somewhat barren in the vicinity
of the rivers and deep coolies, where the features of the bad-lands of
Dakota and eastern Montana are again repeated, though in a less de-
gree. This entire section at a period not long past was literally over
run by buffalo, and hence can be relied on as a splendid stock range.
Where buffalo range, the winters, though at times cold ami severe, are
comparatively free from snow, and hence are suited to winter grazing.

August 3. — Here, in the vicinity of Fort McLeod, there is a great
variety of native locusts, and on the Hat, stony grounds to the south
west they are quite numerous. They are mostly CEdipodinse, with a few
forms of Acridime. While on our journey to the mountains west of
Fort McLeod we succeeded in capturing a great many of them that

•'• /( -iriH' catena rid (Cnftner).

8 Cirt'otfttl.r carlinaiana I'hos.

14 BULLETIN NO. -2, ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION.

were afterwards destroyed by mice during a stormy night, the tent hav-
ing blown down and everything overturned. Did not get a chance to
replace them afterwards, as we were kept busy arranging for our trip
across the country to Winnepeg. No migratory locusts noticed to-day.

The country in this vicinity is very similar in appearance to that
passed over in going from Fort Benton to this point, but, being closer
to the mountains, it becomes slightly rolling, and at the same time more
thickly covered with vegetation, since the rainfall is more frequent. The
surface, however, in many places is very thickly covered with small
stones and boulders. Of course, where such is the case, the soil is poor
and the grasses thin and short, making excellent breeding spots for
various species of locusts. These, too, are not overlooked by them, as
can be seen from the numbers of these insects to be found on and in
proximity to such spots. Here, too, we miss to a great extent many of
the alkali signs so prominent out on the plains. The magnesia salts
are less strong where found in springs, and the marine vegetation, i. e.y
salt marsh and beach plants, has entirely disappeared from among
the flora of the country, and hence also maritime insects are no longer
to be noticed.

As we approach the mountains, more and more marked become these
differences. Trees begin to be seen, shrubs and herbs become more
numerous and common, and the number of flowering plants increases.
It must necessarily follow that insect life also increases. This is true,
for now various species of bees and wasps make their appearance among
the flowers, and an occasional yellow butterfly is seen flitting across the
green sward. Now and then the note of a solitary sparrow is heard,
or perhaps some snipe or plover is seen running along the ground chas-
ing a locust, or sailing gracefully in the air, uttering its sharp notes to
its mate and young. By this time we have reached Pincher Creek, a
small mountain stream along which are settled several ranchers who
appear to be doing well. This stream heads far up in the foot-hills,
where it is fed by springs and lakes filled with beautiful trout. The
bed of the creek is crowded with boulders and the stream is very rapid.

After crossing over this stream we begin ascending towards the first
range of foot-hills, or " hog-backs," a series of which extend in a nearly
parallel direction with the main range. These small ridges are composed
of a kind of sandstone that has been tilted up edgewise— -the softer
strata having been worn away and the harder ones left standing, and
thereby causing the various ridges, one in front of the other. These
various ridges are dotted here and there with groves of quaking aspens,
willows, and spruces, and at other points the trailing juniper almost
entirely covers the rocks. Numerous small and sparkling springs dis-
charge their cool, limpid waters among the rich grasses that carpet the
valleys and lower hillsides, all tending to make the vicinity attractive
and beautiful. Here it is that we find great variety in the insect life,
everv little variation in surface and altitude offering some peculiar at-

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN 1882. 15

traction to certain species of insects. Hence this will be a splendid
collecting ground, and we will undoubtedly find sonic interesting form-.

Our camp was made about midway from the first of these "hog-
backs" to the first low range of mountains on the bank of Mill (nek.
This stream is a beautiful one, and flows through a rocky canon that is
quite picturesque with scenery. The stream heads way np among the
timbered portions of Victoria Mountain, and forms a way for running
the lumber material down to the saw-mills situated at the lower end of
its coures.

Hymenoptera are not numerous in species, but quite plentifully rep-
resented in individuals, the most attractive being the various species
of humble bees and hornets which frequent flowers. Of these insects
there are quite a number of gaily-colored forms, of which we obtained
a fair series. Ants, too, are very numerous, but few in species. These
are chiefly under stones, but two or three species frequent decayed logs
or burrow in the earth, and form hills of sticks and small stones.
From some of these we obtained several parasitic beetles — one form, of
which there are very likely two species, being a "pill-beetle," and the
others small Staphylinidae and allied forms. Of these we also obtained
a fair representation. Orthoptera were common, and of a fair number
of species. These, of course, we tried to obtain in all their varieties.

One misfortune against which we had to contend, and which I regret
very much, is the loss of a large number of our pinned specimens, by
mice, thus making it quite difficult to classify from alcoholic specimens
alone. I had made it a point to pin all odd or new looking forms, in
order to retain as nearly as possible their original colors, and as there
were some of which I only obtained one or two specimens, or repre-
sentatives, these are lost. Others, again, change their colors to such
an extent after immersion in alcohol as to render them unrecognizable
when seen fresh.

Among these were numerous forms of Caloptenns (Melanoplus), some
of which very closely resemble the migratory species in many ot' their
characters, though differing sufficiently not to be confounded with that
insect. None of these, though watched very carefully, exhibited the
migratory trait, except, perhaps, Camnula atrox, which is quite com
mon on some of the hay flats. It did not, however, appear to gather in
great numbers, or to move in unison as does ('. spretus. None i)\ their
movements noticed by me could strictly be called migrations : but at
various times I saw individuals or even small groups of them rise sev-
eral yards into the air and move to some other locality from titty feet
to a hundred or more yards distant.

Such species as we found identical with those in t lie Western and
Middle States differed in no respect from them in habits, and hence
were but sparingly collected, save perhaps in a few instances.

There are some Pezotettigi that may be new. These appeared to be
rather rare, ami were only found high up in the mountains, ami quite a

16 BULLETIN NO. 2, ENTOMOLOGICAL DIVISION.

distance from camp. In habit they closely imitate Pez. dodgei and Pez.
obesa. One peculiarity of all the Acrididae of these mountain regions
apjiears to be the great variability in coloration among different indi-
viduals of the same species. Just what the cause of this phenomenon
is I was unable to learn, but that there is cause for such variations
there can be no doubt.

Other orders of insects are not very numerous here, save, perhaps,
Diptera and Heteroptera, and these are only numerous in individuals —
the species being comparatively few. Of Diptera we noticed a few and
collected such as may feed upon the eggs of locusts. Of Homopterous
insects, and also those belonging to Xeuroptera, we saw bnt very few;
of these, however, we collected what we well could.

During our stay in these foot-hills we made many excursions into the
surrounding country and mountains, each time finding something new
or of interest. These trips were generally but of a single daj's dura-
tion, as we were without horses and were obliged to return to camp at
night. It was by means of these trips that we visited quite an exten-
sive area of country, the surface of which is much varied. We there-
fore, without much doubt, must have obtained a fair representation of
the most common forms of the insect fauna of this region.

It may appear incredible that there were so few species of Lepidoptera
where so many and such beautiful flowers grow, but such is the fact.
During the month that we spent collecting here we could not have seen
more than seventy-five or one hundred butterflies and moths, and these
all belonged to less than a dozen species.

Having remained at this locality a month, we now started for Mc-
Leod with our boat. The start was made from the mouth of Pincher
Creek, going by river about 75 miles. After an exciting run over nu-
merous rapids and shoals we reached our destination just after sun-
set of the same day. After lying over for three days in order to lay
in a supply of provisions and other necessary articles for our down-
river trip, we pulled out on the afternoon of the 4th day of September.
This undertaking was one which very many advised us not to try, as they
claimed that the river over a great portion of its course was unexplored
and might prove to be treacherous. However we thought we would
run the risk.

When we left McLeod our intention was to run as far down as the
first settlement, or the first place where we could obtain transportation
across country to the Assiniboine or Qu'appelle River, it being our in-
tention, if possible, to make a portage and reach Winnepeg by these
rivers in our boat. The first opportunity, however, came much sooner
than we had anticipated, and much more to our desire, as it gave us an
opportunity of visiting the country lying in the vicinity of Fort Walsh,
as well as that to the eastward, where the great swarms of locusts of
1875 and 1876 were bred.

Before recording the occurrences of this trip, perhaps it would be

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCU8T EN 18* 17

well to give the facts in reference to several interviews that I had with
old settlers in reference to the movements and breeding of tin- m s
tory locust in this Northwest Territory. The first of these inter-
was with Mr. William 8. Gladstone, an ex-employe* of the Hudson Bay
Company, who first came into the country in the year 1845, and
tioned at Edmonton House. Be stated that in the year 18 L3 some lo<
were hatched as far north as that place, and also at several subsequent
periods, but he did not remember dates. Could not be positive a> t<> in-
directions of their flights, but knows that they did fly away. Once OT
twice they were quite numerous, but did no damage, as there was no
chance for them to do so, there being no farming done in the country at
the time.

During the summers of 1S74 ami 1875, locusts were quite nnmei
throughout all the region in the country around and between Ports Sfc-
Leod and Walsh. They hatched all over, even as far north as tin- Bed
Deer and beyond. They appeared to come from the east, and to leave
towards the south and southwest. These were the movements as no-
ticed on the St. Mary's River at old Forts Hoop-up and Slide-out, trading-
posts. No special notice was taken of them at this time, as every one
then in the country was occupied in traffic with the Indians, and had
no time to watch grasshoppers. The country away from these trading-
posts, too. was wild ami unknown to whites and not safe to travel
through, hence the little known in reference to matters foreign to trad-
ing with savages. Since the mounted police came into the country,
every season more and more of this wilderness became known and
traversed, until at present there are but few localities unexplored.

Mr. Gladstone's observations in reference to the habits of the locust
are substantially the same as those we made while the insect was with as.

The prevailing winds are from the west and southwest, and the
climate is more mild as the mountains are approached; the cans
this feature being the influence of the -Chinook" winds that at various
times during winter are wafted across the mountains from the Pacific
coast, and also the sheltering influence of the pine and spruce fa
as well as of the mountains themselves.

Mr. l)avi>'s (of I. G. Baker & Co.) statements were substantially the
same as those of Mr. Gladstone: therefore it is unnecessary for me to
repeat them here. He, too, was stationed at the same local:- j,
Hoop-up and Slide-out.

Since the spring, or rather summer, of 1*77. no locusts were seen in
the vicinity of Port McLeod, I. '.. not in numbers sufficiently great to
cause alarm or even to damage garden vegetation, nor were any noticed
in the air as far as I was able to learn.

From these data and from what observations we made individually,
I would infer that at present the Northwest is comparatively free from
this plague.

It is unnecessary for me to enter into a lengthy difi
9676 2

18 BULLETIN NO. 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

to the possible or probable causes for the sudden and general disap-
pearance of this insect at this time from this vast area of country that
in every respect is so admirably adapted to its increase in the greatest
numbers possible ; for we already know how general had become its
distribution during the years 1875 and 1876, and how, in the spring of
1877, everywhere, soon after the young had been hatched, they began
to dwindle from various causes already known to us, until but a very
small per cent, of what had hatched remained ; how these from weak-
ness were unable to migrate in every instance, and where they sue-
ceeded and deposited their eggs, how accident after accident befell
them, until they were almost entirely obliterated from the face of the
earth. 1 need not enter upon a discussion of these facts that are already
known and that have been pretty widely circulated by the Entomolog-
ical Commission, of which my worthy chief was head. Aside from this,
however, I consider it my duty to give all the information possible in
reference to its probable appearance and movements in the future, in
order that the farmers and horticulturists of our country in general
may know how to plant accordingly.

For a distance of some forty or more miles below McLeod the country
along the river retains the characters it has in the vicinity of the above-
named place, after which it gradually changes to a high, dry, and al-
most level plain, the surface of which is covered by a medium growth
of short grasses somewhat superior to those of the plains of western
3}akota, but far inferior to those of the prairies of Nebraska, Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, and eastern Dakota.

The river bottoms become less wide, the hills higher, and timber less
abundant. At long intervals deep coulees extend back from the river
into the plains and form almost impassable barriers to wagon or cart
travel. These coulees in the spring-time are the beds of small streams
that are formed by melting snows. Some of them support a meager
growth of choke cherry and Buffalo berry bushes on their sheltered
sides, but otherwise there is but little trace of vegetation which bears
the semblance of shrub or tree away from the river banks.

After passing the mouth of the Old Man's or Arrow River and enter-
ing the Belly River, there begin to be traces of coal in the high and
almost vertical cliffs that are now quite frequent on both sides of the
river. These cliffs, for the most part, are composed of clayey soil
highly impregnated with the various salts of soda and potash, and oc-
casionally a magnesia spring is passed. But very little if any vegeta-
tion grows on these steeply-worn hills, and they look quite desolate. By
the time the St. Mary's River is passed, these cliffs contain some rocks
of a more substantial character ; the coal signs have developed into coal
seams, and now and then a stratum or perhaps a series of strata is
passed that contain numerous fossils of various kinds. All these char-
acters just noticed continue to become more and more decided from
time to time until they finally culminate in a narrow gorge, like a valley,

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST IN 18*2. 19

with steep rocky and clayey walls in which are to be seen Qumeroiu
signs of spontaneous combustion among the coal seams.

This condition of affairs is to be met with in the neighborhood of the
mouth of the Bow River. Now all traces of tree and bush have faded
from the scene; all around is a black, barren wilderness, rendered more
desolate at night by the shrill bowlings of the gaunt and hungry coyotes
that linger about our camping ground. The river now has widened
out to be quite a large stream, in most parts navigable to fair-sized
steamers; and its banks are turreted and grooved into fantastic forms,
reminding one of the great bad lands of the Missouri River region.
All along, wherever sufficient shelter is afforded, and also at many
places where there is no shelter of any kind, on the cliffs are stuck to
the rocks and stowed away in nooks and crevices countless numbers of
the little mud nests of the cliff swallows (Petrochelidon Inn ifrons). These
remind one of a collection of inverted funnels. All their occupants
had already tlown away to more genial climes, or ;- dived down into
the mud." not to appear again until next spring, as some superstitious
individuals would try to make us believe. Among these are also to be
seen the nests of two other swallows, viz.. the Bank Swallow (CotyU
riparia) and the Barn Swallow (Hirundo horreorum). These two species
were still lingering about in small numbers. Their nests were not
nearly as numerous as were those of the former species. All these
swallows lived upon insects of various kinds, and judging from the
great amount of excrement upon the rocks beneath the nests, they
must have destroyed an incalculable number of them. Very likely
half of these were locusts of the various species found in this country.
This being the case I do not wonder at the scarcity of insect life along
this river and in the country for many miles on either side. Bee
swallows, great numbers of various kinds of hawks and falcons had
their rudely-constructed eyries perched upon rocks, cliffs, and often on
side-hills, while every tree of sufficient size contained from one to three
or four of these rude structures.

The country lying back from the river on each Bide is high, dry. and
generally level, and varies but little in its general appearance and char-
acter for hundreds of miles from west to cast, and two to three hundred
miles from north to south. Of course, at several points the general
level of these great plains has been disturbed by internal forces, and
small mountain groups arc the result. Numerous small depressions
have also been made throughout the country, too. and these are now
occupied by alkaline Lakes.

Soon after leaving Fort McLeod the country to the northward was
all burnt over. This fire extended from Willow Creek to the Little
How River, On the south side tires had already swept over all the
country from the mouth of the St Mary's to far below the Little Low-
Again, from the How to the Ked D ■ ; was burnt off, as well a
greater portion of the country lying east of the mouth of Seven Per-

20 BULLETIN NO. % DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

sons' Kiver and between that and Fort Walsh. Between Fort Walsh
and Old Wives' Lake, too, more than half of the country was burnt.
At several points along the river where we camped, I made small col-
lections of various species of locusts and other insects. These were
found close to the river on little spots somewhat isolated from the other
country, and hence were not reached by fires.

From the scarcity of all classes of insect life in these burnt districts,
it would appear that the fires destroy the insects in great numbers.
But whether this is done in time to prevent the depositing of eggs, or
not, I did not learn. I found many charred bodies of locusts that ap-
parently belonged to several species. Some of these contained eggs,
and others were still in coition. They were too much disfigured, in most
cases, to tell with certainty the species to which they belonged.

During the journey down the river, short excursions were made back
into the country at six different points. These were from three to six
miles in length, but disclosed nothing in reference to the Rocky Mountain
locust, more than to give us an idea of the surface of the country. We
were thus enabled to make comparisons, from time to time, of the coun-
try now being traversed with that already passed over. Although the
general features of the entire country were those heretofore mentioned,
we could discern a slight variation, from time to time, both in the veg-
etation and soil. The farther down we went the more sage-brush was
seen. This sage is not the same as the sages of Wyoming and Utah,
but more nearly resembles Artemisia ludoviciana. It grows more abun-
dantly on sandy soil comparatively free from rocks. Several other
Arteinisias are also occasionally met with, but these are small and in-
conspicuous.

At a point about twelve miles above the mouth of Bow River, on the
south side, the upland is quite sandy, and much pawed over by buf-
falo. Of course, this has been done several years ago, as there are but
few of those animals left in the country at the present time. At various
other points also there is very similar soil, one of these being several
miles to the northward of Medicine Hat, or the crossing of the Sas-
katchewan at the mouth of Seven Persons' River. At this latter locality
we hired a man with his team to take us across country to the terminus
of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Our route lay through the Cypress
Hills to Fort Walsh, and thence eastward for some forty-odd miles,
after which we turned to the northeast and traveled in that direction
until we struck the surveyed line of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, near
Rush Lake, after which we again turned east.

In making this journey a great diversity of country was passed over
and a distance of about 300 miles traveled. During the first day we
followed up the course of a small coulee that extends back from the
Saskatchewan to the Cypress Hills, part of the time keeping the high
land and at other times choosing the valley. Here also the surface
was bared of its vegetation, save in a few isolated spots, by prairie

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST » 1882. 21

fires. At several points we made small collections of the locusts
well as of other insects which were to be found during the short interval

allotted to feeding the horses. These differed in no respect from those
already collected while coming down the river.

Our second day's journey was over a portion of country much like
that in the neighborhood of our camp on Mill Creek west of Fort

McLeod, as a great portion of it was among the northern foot-hills of
the Cypress Hills. Here the vegetation was ranker, and at many points
the grasses sufficiently long and thick for good hay. Trees of a few vari-
eties somewhat common, but not numerous, and fine streams of good
water were the attractive features of this portion of Her Majes
domain, and distinguish it from all the remainder of these great and
lonely plains through which we had been traveling for the past three
weeks. This range of hills is a kind of an oasis in the desert, so to
speak. TheOypress Mountains — or, more properly speaking*, theCypress
Hills— are not very exteusive, being but about 00 miles from east to
west and half that distance from north to south. The country com-
prised in them is very rough in parts, and in others quite level, though
elevated, the summit being a plateau. This is bounded by a timbered
belt to the west and north, with an occasional grove on the east. From
this elevated plateau, and particularly from the timbered portions, nu-
merous small streams of good water run off to the surrounding and
lower country, where it is for the most part evaporated in small lakes
and ponds. These streams have all worn for themselves deep canons.
or what in this western country are termed coulees, thus making travel
very difficult in- certain directions, and particularly so by the route we
passed. It is useless for me to go over all this country, piece by piece,
as it differs but little in its general characters from that already par-
tially described in the foregoing pages. Suffice it to say that the greater
part of it is admirably adapted to the breeding of C. sj)retus and a few
allied forms of locusts.

After leaving the Cypress Hills behind, we crossed a vast expanse of
nearly level prairie, well grassed, with a loose, sandy, clay soil, well im-
pregnated with various alkalies. This section, also, is admirably fitted
for the rearing of locust swarms. In fact the entire country between the
Rockies on the west and the Souris River on the east is one vast hot-
bed, calculated to produce the largest and healthiest swarms in America.
These breeding grounds must not be understood to lie altogether within
Canadian territory, for such is not the case. We. too. in the United
States, have a continuation of these cradles of the ravaging pest in the
features of western Dakota, of .Montana. Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, NV
vada. Oregon, and a small portion of southeastern Washington Terri-
tory, as well as in some of Nebraska. Kansas. ( 'olorado, Texas, and New
Mexico. But with us these permanent breeding localities are more
separated by high mountain ranges, timber belts, and bad-lands, as well
as desOrt and sage-brush regions.

22 BULLETIN NO. 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

The question now arises, Has there been any plausible and practical
means discovered during any of these extended tours by which the
locusts can be exterminated? My answer to this, if direct, is no ; if in-
direct, yes. In the first place we are to make an answer in accordance
with the definition of the word exterminated. As I understand it, it
signifies blot out, and that would require every individual insect of
this species to be killed, which would be an utter impossibility. But,
by various methods already described in the annual reports of this Com-
mission created by Congress, their numbers could be and will be so
killed off from time to time as to bring them under the control of their
natural enemies.

During our trip this summer we saw a few locusts of the migratory
species at Bismarck, Dak., at Fort Buford, and two or three specimens
at intervals afterwards, but nowhere were they as numerous as most
species of the "natives." Locusts were also seen in small numbers by
Prof. C. A. White while in the vicinity of Glendive, Mont. Professor
Aughey also saw a few at several points, and Mr. E. R. Dodge reports a
few as having been seen in Colorado. Others were reported as having
hatched this spring among the sand hills between the Niobrara and
Loup Rivers. In none of these cases, however, were they sufficiently
numerous to cause fear of an invasion for the following summer.

EXPERIMENTS OX CHINCH BUGS.

By Prof. 8. A. Forbes.

MEMORANDA OF EXPERIMENTS RELATING TO USE OF KEROSENE

EMULSIONS ON CHINCH BUGS.

Solutions with which dilution* were made. — (1) Soap gads, 1 pound
soap to 10 gallons water: (2) soap suds. 1 pound soap to 20 gallons
water: (3) potash, 1 pound to 50 gallons water.

EMULSIONS AS DILUTED.

kea • •

A. 2 parts kerosene. 1 part milk, 45 parrs water .. about 4

B. 1 part kerosene, 1 part milk, 18 parts water

C. 1 part kerosene. 1 part milk. IS parts solution 1

D. 1 part kerosene. 1 part milk, 38 parts solution 2 2£

E. 1 part kerosene. 1 part milk. :>S parts water

F. 1 part kerosene, 1 part milk. 38 parts solution 3

G. 1 part kerosene. 1 part milk, 30 parts solution 2 about 3

On the 22d of July I transplanted several hills of corn to the labora-
tory, placing them in boxes about a foot and a half wide by two feet in
length. The corn was from two to three feet in height at this time.
Each hill was infested with several hundred chinch bugs, which were
of various sizes, below the pupa stage. All the corn was watered once
immediately after transplanting, and bore the removal well. It was
kept under shelter, but in the well-lighted dome of the building, and
fully exposed to the air.

Experiment 1, July 22, dp. m. — Applied to a single hill from half a
pint to a pint of emulsion A. throwing it with a small syringe upon
the bases of the stalks and surfaces of the ground. For a check upon
this experiment. 1 applied water to another hill in the same quantity
and in the same way. July 23, 9 a. m.. the bugs on the first hill were
still alive, but torpid. July 24. at 11 a. m.. about one-fifth of the hugs
were completely dead: the others were still alive, but most of them
torpid. July 26, 3 p. m.. thirty of the bugs were alive and back npon
the stalk>. apparently uninjured, but all tin- remainder were dead.
July 27. 10 a. m., the hill was in the same condition. Treated again
with emulsion B, on the 28th, when all the bags were killed. Thos
the hill to which water was applied were not injured in the least, hut all
were back again upon the stalks in twenty four hours.

24 BULLETIN NO 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Experiment 2, July 24, 4.30 p. m. — Applied to another hill in the labora-
tory one half pint of emulsion B. July 25, 10 a. in., four-fifths of the
bugs were dead. Those alive were almost entirely under clods, and
some here were also dead. On the 26th and 27th about forty bugs were
found to be alive, and all the remainder dead. On a "hill treated with
water at the same time no effect was produced.

Experiment 3, July 25, 3.30 p>. m. — Applied seven pints of emulsion B
to eighteen hills of corD in the field, selecting those worst affected. The
weather was very hot and dry. The solution was applied with a hand
force-pump. The hills treated were surrounded by fence boards placed
on edge and daubed plentifully with fresh coal tar, to prevent interfer-
ence from outside. On the 26th, at 11.30 a. in., about four-fifths of the
bugs were entirely dead. At 5 p. m. of the 27th the situation was un-
changed.

Experiment 4, July 28, 11 a. m. — A hill of corn in the laboratory was
treated with half a pint of emulsion C. At 5 p. m. the bugs were all
dead but about a dozen. On the 29th, at 11 a. m., could find but four
that showed signs of life. On the 31st of July fourteen bugs were alive
and at work on the stalks.

Experiment 5, July 28, 7 p. m. — I treated thirteen hills of corn in the
field with emulsion O, applying half a pint to each hill. The following
night Avas cloudy but dry. On the 29th, at 9 a. m., nine-tenths of the
bugs were dead, and those alive were nearly all under clods. On the
29th, at 5 p. in., from 90 to 95 per cent, were dead, piled up in masses
everywhere upon the corn and ground. August 2, 5 p. m., on compari-
son of these hills with others adjacent, I found that the bugs upon the
latter wTere about five times as numerous as those upon the hills wmich
had been treated. From this and the preceding experiments I infer
that the bugs were still hatching.

Experiment 6. — I spread upon a glass slide as thin a layer of emulsion
D as I could apply with a camel's hair brush, and allowed five bugs to
crawl over it. Four, whose bodies were reached by the fluid, died in an
hour, but the one remaining was unaffected.

Experiment 7, August 1, 12 m. — Applied half a pint of emulsion E to
a hill in the laboratory. August 2, 8 a. m., from one-half to two-thirds
of the bugs were dead, and those alive were collected upon the highest
points of ground. August 4, at 8 a. m., probably three-fourths of the
bugs were found to be dead.

Experiment 8, August 1, 12 m. — Applied one-half pint of emulsion D.
August 2, 9 a. in., nine-tenths of the bugs were dead. Those alive were
nearly all on the ground. This dilution with soap-suds holds much
better than that with water.

Experiment 9, August 1, 12 m. — Applied half a pint of emulsion F.
August 2, 8 a. in., one-half of the bugs wTere dead; the others were on
the ground and on stalks. On the 4th of August nearly all were dead.

The three above experiments were intended to test the comparative

KER08ENE EMULSIONS ON THE CHINCH BUG. 25

efficiency of water, soap-suds, and a solution of potash as diluents of
the emulsion. The first effects were evidently in favor of soap-suds,
showing that this is at least most prompt in its action. The comparison
of final effects was interfered with by the fact that about this time the
bugs on all the hills commenced to die indiscriminately from souk- «
not clearly understood.

Experiment 10, August 2, 2 p. m. — Applied half a pint of emulsion I)
to the worst hill in the laboratory. August .5. 9.30 a. m.. nine-tenths of
the bugs were dead; the others were scattered on the ground. August
4, 8 a. m., 95 per cent, of the bugs were dead, and the others still torpid
on the ground.

Experiment 11, August 2. op. m. — Applied one-half pint of emulsion F
to a hill in the laboratory. At 10 a. in. on the 3d fully 90 per cent, of
the bugs were dead.

Additional experiments, which I have not time to detail, showed that
milk is not necessary to the emulsion, which can be made at least as
well with soap-suds (1 pound to 10 gallons of water), using equal parts
of the oil and suds; that a mere mechanical mixture of the simple oil
and water is effective, and does not injure the corn (at least, in a ratio
of 5 per cent, of the oil to 95 of water): that all these fluids accomplish
their purpose when poured on with a sprinkler as well as when applied
forcibly in a spray, and that they kill the adult bugs as easily as the
young.

s. A. FORBES.

Normal, III., August 22, 1882.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDEXCR,

GRAPTODBBA CARINATA INJURING FUCHSIAS.

By this mail I send insects which 1 have found eating the leaves of fuchsia much
in the same way as the potato buy; rats the leaves of potato vines. Having never
seen anything of the kind before, I would like to know whether they are common or
not. They do not seem to eat the leaves of any other plant, so far as I have been able
to observe. Hoping that I am not trespassing too much on your valuable time. —
[Edwin Lonsdale. German town, Pa.. September 1, .

REPLY". — Your favor of yesterday and the accompanying box to hand. Th> Lnsecl
that troubles your fuchsias is a flea-beetle, Graplodera carinata (family Chrj/somelidw).
Von will find a short account of this insect on the inclosed Blip from the American
Entomologist, Vol. Ill, p. 200.

llli: AKMV WORM AT SARATOGA.

Inclosed please find the best specimen I could find of the worm or caterpillar which
destroyed 25 acres of meadow in the town of Saratoga Springs. I would like to know
if they are the genuine Army Worm. The worm is about one inch long or longer, black,
with two stripes the length of the body. Please have a report sent to me. — [F. D.
Curtis, Charlton, X. Y., August 21, 1882.

Keply. — * * The worms inclosed in this Letter, although badly shriveled

and almost unrecognizable, seem without doubt to be genuine Army Worms. The
Department is about to publish a special bulletin on this insert, an abstract of which
is contained in the forthcoming annual report. The annual report for 1879 also con-
tains a summary of its natural history, and a brief review- of the known remedies.

THE AKMV WORM IN LOUISIANA.

In relation to the specimen of the Cut-worm that has done bo much damage here, I
send you a good collect ion. which was easy to find. The early Summer Flint that I
planted the 9th of July as B trial to see if it would have time to mature in the richest
soil of the Red River Valley. The Cut-worms have attacked it since a week, but they
are not as numerous as in May and dune. These worms attack the corn in the root,
and others conceal themselves in the heart of the plant, which it destroys, following
to the root. It attacks the cotton when very young — about fifteen days old— which
in some places ii has entirelj destroyed. 1 hope this will give entire satisfaction. —
[W.J. Cornier. Marksville.La.. \u.-ust 8, 1882.

[The Bpecimens were genuine Northern Ann\ Worms y I.( ucauia Mtttptlltcta).]

AGROTTS INBRMIS AND HALTICA PALLICORNIS INJURING 8MI1 \\.

Accompanying this I send a worm which I have found eating my sinilax. It was
first found in day-time feeding, live or six plant s being killed before my attention was
attracted by its depredations. 1 noticed about the :>d instant that about 400 plants
had all the young leaves and shoots entirely eaten ; on looking for a cause [could see

28 BULLETIN NO. 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

nothing. I took a light, about eight o'clock in the evening, and killed from 20 to 25.
The next night about a dozen were killed, and the night following four, and the
next, one. After that I could see no signs of any until three days ago. I found one
plant eaten in a different part of the bed to where the others were caught. Each
night I took out a light, but could not find anything until last night, when the one
sent was caught. Every morning I could see where he had been feeding ; each day
his appetite increased, for as much again more was eaten each night than the last.
A neighboring farmer says it is the Cut-worm. The plants of smilax are from 1 to 2
feet high, quite tender and succulent. Our smilax in summer time is infested by an
insect very closely resembling the cabbage or turnip fly. Will pyrethrum destroy
it? — [Edwin Lonsdale, Germantown, Pa., September 14, 1882.

Reply. — The Cut-worm accompanying your favor of the 14th instant was a speci-
men of the Variegated Cut-worm (Agrotis inermis), which you will find fully treated
in my First Missouri Entomological Report, p. 72. Your remedy of hand-picking will
perhaps be the most satisfactory under the circumstances. I should like to see speci-
mens of the fly on the smilax, if you can conveniently send them to me. Pyrethrum
will undoubtedly destroy them.

I send' by this mail a few of the lively little insects which infest the smilax in the
summer time. The cool nights seem to stop their depredations, for they do not bother
us much after this date. I have put in a few leaves of smilax for you to see. They
do not seem to do the smilax so much damage ; only to disfigure it, rendering it unfit
for sale. The leaves sent are not nearly so badly marked as they are in June and
July. Hoping to hear what he really is. I thank you for your attention to what I
have sent before. — [Edwin Lonsdale, Germantown, Pa,, September 26, 1882.

Reply. — Your letter of the 26th September, 1882, and the insects injurious to
smilax were duly received. The latter proved to belong to a common little species
of flea-beetle known as Ealtica paUicornis Fabr. They are found on many species of
plants, and not infrequently do considerable damage to those cultivated in flower
gardens.

SPREAD OF THE OCOVER-LEAF WEEVIL.

Has the report relating to the Phytonomus punctatus appeared yet ? The beetles
appear to be about as destructive and plentiful as last year, and are now found in all
parts of the country about here. — [L. D. Snook, Barrington, N. Y., September 12, 1882.

THE CORN-MEAL WORM INJURING CONFECTIONERY.

I herewith mail you some samples of moth about which I desire some information.
You will find in one box two moths, and two worms which will in time deArelop into
moths. In the other box are three lozenges, which will probably be found on examination
to contain worms. Please give me their name, and state if more than one yearly crop
is "raised" ; also, if in your judgment a heat of 130° F.. or thereabouts, applied for a
period of eight or nine hours, will certainly kill the eggs. What worknvill give me
the fullest practical information in regard to them ? Your kind attention to the above
will greatly oblige.— [J. W. Wickersham, New York, September 16, 1882.

Reply. — The insect which has eaten the lozenges is the corn-meal moth {Ephestia
zeie Fitch). It is a very general feeder, and it is not surprising to hear of it in loz-
enges. In my judgment a heat of 130° F. will kill the insects in every stage, if con-
tinued for eight or nine hours, and it will probably be the simplest method of
destroying them. There are probably two broods each year in New York, the moths
appearing in the spring and early fall. The fullest account of this insect will be found ■
in Dr. Fitch's 2d Report, p. 320, under the name of Tinea zees.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIVISION. 29

A SILK-SPINNINO MITK.

I write for information upon a very curious occurrence to which my attention was
recently directed. Last Wednesday, September 6, my father noticed thai one of his
large ash trees glistened and sparkled in quite a remarkable manner. Thinking it
was the oozing out of sap, which in such quantities would have been fatal to the
tree, he proceeded to investigate. Judge of his astonishment when he found if to be
the complete covering of the tree with an exceedingly delicate, filmy, compact cob-
web (?). From the ground up on the trunk some 25 feet, and extending out on most
of the branches, this web reached. The covering was as complete as if a Bllken
kerchief had been wrapped around the tree-trunk. The author of this gigantic cob-
web (?) is a minute, orange-colored mite, or some say spider, with his myriads o
ters, brothers, cousins, and aunts. They were found in large masses along the tree-
trunk and in the crotches. Concerning the conditions and surroundings I can only
say that the tree stands in (lose proximity to pines, maples, apple and eve] _
trees. The weather has been, the entire summer, of unprecedented dryness. Three
days after its appearance the most severe storm we have had for two months developed.
This somewhat tore and washed away the web, but to-day, the seventh after its first
discovery, it and the mites are still there. Any information concerning this fellow
and his workings which yon deem expedient and have the kindness to forward, I
shall be most deeply thankful for. — [Geo. W. Mansfield, Melrose Highlands, Ma--..
September 14, 1882.

Reply. — Your letter of the 14th September, 1882, is duly received, together with the
accompanying specimens, which prove to be a species of red mite, closely allied to
the so-called "red spider" {Tetranychus telarius), but specifically distinct. The facts
which you detail are very interesting, but have been previously observed by Mr. B.
P. Mann, now of this Department, and mentioned at the Cincinnati meeting of the A. A.
A. S. Should you wish to remove the mites from your tree you will probably find the
use of kerosene in emulsion the most satisfactory.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST.
* * * Thus far we have met but few C. spretu*, and from present outlooks there
is no possibility that we will find any numbers of this insect in this vicinity nnless they
should drift in from across the range. This, however, is not likely to occur, since at
the present time great tires are raging iu the localities where they would cross were
they to come this way. We have quite a number of specimens which we will carry
with us, as they might be destroyed in the mails, the roads are so rough and the care so
slack between this point and Benton. Have heard it hinted that there are some
locusts in the sect ion about the Columbia and Snake Rivers that are causing some
trouble. This may be true. * * At present I do not think there is any danger

of locust visitations east of the Rocky Mountains for L883, but since leaving civiliza-
tion, " God's country," as Americans call it up here, we have had no opportunity of
reading the papers or hearing the news of the day. * * — [L. Brnner, Fort Mc-

Leod, N. YV. T., Canada. September 3, 1882.

AN [N8ECT ENEMY to ["HISTLE.

I send an insect with this note, for name. Its food-plant is the Canada thistle.
where it inserts its beak in the stalks. I And them so thickly on some of the plants
t hat they almost co\ er t he stems. Bui my anxiety to learn its name is o]\ account ot'
the relation it sustains to the ants. I wish to send some notes to the American Xat-
unilist about the ants, and their behavior toward these creatures,' which is more inter-
est ing than anyt hing 1 ever observed among the aphides and ants. If it is ondescribed,
will you name it and Write a description, to be inserted with my notes tor the Nat-
uralist .' 1 am still studying ants and spiders, and have some \er> interesting-
of the latter.—- [Mary Treat. Franklin Palls, X. 11.. September 4, I8b2,

[The insect sent proved to he Entilia nnuata Fabr. )

30 BULLETIN NO. 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE WINGLESS WHEAT ISOSOMA IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

I have this day mailed to you for investigation some wheat-straws containing the
larva or grub of a fly or something else, hoping to have you make an investigation
and give me what it may he. Our crop is short, and has been ever since it has infested
the wheat. — [J. A. Starner, Dayton, Columbia County, Wash. Ter., September 2, 1882.

Reply. — The specimens show the insect to be the wingless " wheat-stalk Isosoma''
(Isosoma tritici Riley) which has been studied during the past two years from specimens
received from Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois. It is also probably the same insect
referred to in the Pacific Mural Press of three years ago as infesting wheat in Califor-
nia. I cannot enter into a discussion of the insect here, but will refer Mr. Starner to
the article in the annual report of this department for 1881, which is now in the
printer's hands and will be issued before the end of the year.

FUNGUS GROWTH UPON HONEY DEW.

I herewith inclose a specimen of insect production which, at present, very closely
resembles sponge. It is made by a multitude of small insects, having a fiber very like
cotton, attached to posterior or abdomen. Particles you will observe in specimen. I
have been much in the woods and fields, but never saw anything like this before,
attached to leaves and branches of beech trees. There is quite a quantity of insects
and product where this was fouud. If the matter interests you, I will take pleasure in
furnishing specimens and details. — [Rev. J. A. Lyons, Johnson City, Tenn., Septem-
ber 4, 1882.

Reply. — The peculiar sponge-like growth upon the beech twig which you send is
a fungus (Scorias spougiosa Fries), started originally, without much doubt, upon the
honey-like excretions of a colony of wooly plant-lice. The species of the plant-louse
cannot be determined with absolute accuracy, as you have sent no winged individuals,
but it is in all probability the Schizoneura imlricator of Fitch. The specimen is very
interesting, as I have never before seen this fungus at such an early stage of its growth

ELAPHIDION VILLOSUM BORING TWIGS OF WISTARIA.

According to your request I send you to-day the '* Wistaria Borers" I have col-
lected and placed in a box, to await further results. I prefer that you should watch
their development, for I am away from my office too much for that business. The
smallest I have observed are about one-fourth of an inch long, and are found just in-
side the bark of the dead wood ; the channels made by them are filled with " powder-
post," and generally leave the center of the twig unless the larva is nearly grown,
when it seems to strike for the center, and makes itself a home there preparatory to
cutting off the limb, which you will see it does at each end of its "ctave." The small
larvae are white, with a large head tipped with black. The large ones are of a honey-
yell ojw color. The segments of the body, which are very marked, seem to serve it
well for legs while in its burrow, but it is quite helpless when taken out and placed
on the hand or on a table. It will move quickly aloug its channel when it is partly
cut open, but cannot crawl at all when placed on a level surface. When you have
reared the perfect form I shall be glad to hear from you in regard to it. — [M. C. Read,
Hudson, Ohio, September 29, 1882.

[One of the twigs was opened, and the borer proved to be the larva of a Ceramby-
cid, Elaplndion villo8um.~\

THE AID OF SPIDERS IN THE SPREAD OF SCALE-INSECTS.

I have reached the conclusion that spiders play a much more important role in as-
sisting the spread of scale insect than any other insects. From the beginning of my

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE OK THE DIVISION. 31

observations I have noticed that leaves which spiders had folded or webbed togethei

for their nests or lairs almost always proved infested with scale, if infested
were found in the neighborhood. This I was at first inclined to attribute solely to tin-
protection from enemies and parasites afforded by the web and presence of the spidei .
No doubt, where the source of infection is near at hand, this may give a sufficient ex-
planation of the observed facts. Lately, however, I have been examining with great
care a lot of one and two year old trees which I set out myself last March. The
stock from which these trees were taken was to my certain knowledge almost abso-
lutely free from scale insect. At the time of setting, the weather was sly dry
and unfavorable; in consequence of which the trees, 600 in number, were badly
checked, and to a great extent lost their tops and nearly all their leaves, so that the
present growth is all new, produced during the past summer. Notwithstanding, I
find to my surprise, scale insects beginning to appear on a large proportion of the
plants. Upon some of them the insects have begun to spread over the branches, and
the exact spot where the trouble began is no longer ascertainable. In a strikingly
large n amber of instances I find two or more leaves bound together with silk and
occupied by a spider, and the inner surfaces of these leaves completely coated with
scale insect, when not a trace of the insect can be found elsewhere upon the tree.
Furthermore, this lot of trees occupies a position west and north of the remainder of
the grove, in the path of the prevailing [S. E.] winds. The adjoining rows of older
trees, on the southeast, are many of them quite badly infested with, for the most
part, chaff-scale (Parlatoria pergandil), there being usually a relatively small number
of long-scale (Mytilasjjis gJouerii) mixed with the other species. As is often the case,
the proportions of this mixture of species remains quite constant throughout the in-
fested part of the grove. Now, I find in the newly-infested young grove these two
scales mixed in about the same proportions, so that no doubt exists in my mind as to
the source of their infection. As to the manner in which it has been accomplished. I
submit that if, as many persons think, the young lice are transported bodily by the
winds, we would have had a very different distribution from that which exists upon the
older trees. The larger and heavier young of the chaff-scale would have been car"
ried to a less distance and in smaller numbers than the long-scale. (There have been
no unusual storms or very high winds during the past summer.) Again, in a chance
distribution by the wind I can see no reason for any evident connection with spider-
web shelters such as I have mentioned. Individual scale larva" do not. as Ear as I
have observed, wander far in search of such protection, and do not need it until the
colony becomes sufficiently numerous to attract enemies and parasites. The part
played by winds is evidently a secondary one. inasmuch as nearly all the web-inhab-
iting spiders make use of the wind to cany themselves and their bridges of web from
tree to tree, and the spiders transport as passengers upon their bodies the migrating
larva- of the scale insect. — [H. G. Hubbard, Crescent City. Fla.. September 22, 1882.

I'm; 8EVE1{TBEN-YBAB CICADA IN MW YORK.

I have deferred complying with your request to furnish you with data in regard to
the extent of the sr veuteen-year locusts, in order to obtain all possible information
on the subject in this section of the country. My means of obtaining data in this
matter are quite limited, and, therefore. I can only furnish you with the following:
There are two districts in this county (Yates), the towns of Torrey and Middlesex.
where these locusts were prevalent in great numbers during a part of dune and duly.
Their extent in Torrey covered an area of about four square miles, and in Middlesex,
somewhat less. These towns or localities are situated at some distance from each
other, one bordering on Seneca Cake and the other on Canandaigua Cake. Middle
sex is situated on the western boundary of the county, ami Torrey on the eastern
boundary. I am also informed thai these insects were prevalent in portions of the
counties of Ontario, Livingston, and Wyoming, of western New York. 1 am not able
to learn that they made their appearance in any other parts of the State. They eon-

32 BULLETIN NO. 2, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

tinued about four weeks iu the perfect state, and did considerable damage to orchards
by piercing the small branches of the trees to deposit their eggs, and thereby destroy-
ing them. How long or far back they hare made their periodical visits of seventeen
years I am unable to learn, but I find a few aged citizens who have witnessed their
advents four times according to the above-mentioned periods. I send you some of the
wood they pierced last summer, and you may find that some of the larv.e ;ire still in
the wood. The pictorial illustrations of this insect and its various stages of being
are exactly in accordance with my observations of it. — [Simon Forshay, Penu Yan,
N.'Y., October 9, 1882.

ENORMOUS NUMBERS OF BEETLES IX STORED GRAIN.

One of the first business men of Detroit, whose house and barn are all in one struct-
ure, is flooded with Silvanus sarin am en sis. Now a miller comes to me saying that a
mill which he has just* bought is full of insects. One is of the same family as that
mentioned above. The other something else. What are they, please? I send several
specimens. The miller has taken all his floors up. I have suggested several things,
only two of which are effective, bisulphide of carbon and kerosene. I thiuk the former
can be made to do the work. We are going to give it a thorough test. Of course we
know the danger. We shall run no risk. Can you give me any hints? Have you
known anything like it? The S. sttrinamensis in Detroit were in pints; by putting in
the barn a piece of meat any time of day one could gather a pint in short order.
They were almost as bad in the house. Please advise me. — [A. J. Cook, Lansing, Mich.,
November 1, 1882.

Reply. — The beetles which accompany your letter of the 1st of November, 1882, are
Palorus depressus Fabr. and Lcemoph leuus alternans Ericbs. They are both cosmopolitan
insects, like most of the grain-feeders. You ask for suggestions; I can recommend
nothing better than the bisulphide of carbon, if artificial heat is not available. In
either case I should recommend the building of an air-tight bin to use as a quarantine
for all flours in the establishment.

EAST INDIAN COTTON-WORM REMEDY.

# * # "With reference to the remedy for cotton insects, I would state that the
natives iu upper Burma, where cotton is largely grown for China, use conjee-water in a
fermented state. This conjee-water is obtained by boiling rice, and is daily poured in
small quantities into a vessel capable of holding from 8 to 10 gallons. Occasionally a
little boiled rice is thrown into the vessel, and if any quantity is taken out for use it
is replaced from the cook-house the following day. After fermentation has set iu, a
little salt and the rind of a squeezed fresh lemon is put in. The natives state they
have found this preparation efficacious for not only all insects on the cotton-plant,
but for other purposes, for killing those which attack tobacco and cigars." — [C. Lucas,
Rangoon, British Burma, E. India, November 2, 1882.

A WATER-PROOF INSECTICI DE.

Your report of November 20 has been received, for which please accept my thanks.
I have for the last few years been very much interested in entomology, or that part of
it which pertains to insects injurious to vegetation, and I think I have made some
experiments which may prove of general use, the results of which I have already sent
to our State Agricultural Report. I find in the use of an insecticide that when used
in solution the finer the spray the more effective. I also use in the solution a small
amount of gum arabic or glue ; if glue, I add a small quantity of bichromate of potash ;
this makes it to a certaiu extent water-proof, so that it can stand two or three show
ers of rain. I think this water-proofing the solutions will prove of great ad vautage. —
[William Plumer, Lexington, Mass., January 8, 1883.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE OP THE DIVI8ION. 65

THE EFFECT OF PBOS1 DPON SCALE -INSECTS.

Your favor of the 28th of December to hand on Saturday last. I have been care-
fully examining scale insects to be able to tell you the effects of the frosts on them.

We had frost on the 15th, 16th, 22d, 23d, 25th, 26th, and 30th of November 3 on the 1st,
2d, 3d, and 4th of December; also on the 8th a frost that hurt the orange t tees that had
tender growth; again, frost on the 16th, 17th, and 18th ; on the 17th we had a regular
freeze. I measured ice five-sixteenths inch in thickness formed during the night.
This freeze hurt many trees so that they have shed their leaves. During this cold
weather I have kept myself informed of the condition of the insects. After eacli of
the frosts in November I found migratory larv.e, and no" signs of damage to the in-
sects or eggs. From my note-book I read: "November 20. Young brood hatching
out." "November 25. This morning young larvae under scales; when disturbed they
run about quite lively." "November 30. Migratory larva- under scales unhurt."
"December 4. Five days' consecutive frost ; no damage to insects; numerous young
just settled; abundance of eggs ready to hatch." "December 8. Young larva- alive
under scales, ready to run when disturbed." "December 14. Four days' consecutive
warm weather; abundance of migratory larvje." "December 19. Three days of con-
secutive frost; morning of 17th (thermometer -f- 25° F.) found migratory larvae run-
ning about ; eggs are apparently unhurt ; some moisture near ; some scales appear to be
from the inclosed larvae, but no damage to them is now visible." " December 27. Sev-
eral days of wet weather followed by the frost, so that the trees were constantly wet ;
to-day, although cloudy, the trees are dry; some larvae are dead, but a large majority
are unhurt ; no eggs showing signs of injury found ; migratory larva? seen; the young
recently settled broods did not appear to be any more hurt than the old ones." " De-
cember 30. Wet and cold for several days past ; at noon to-day clearer and warm; no
migratory larva- out; many eggs ready to hatch ; some males seen issuing." "De-
cember 31. Clear and warm; found recently-hatched larvre and parasites; some males
winged and out found dead; in some scales the mother is found dead, her eggs unhurt :
old females are dead, while young larva- settled close by them are alive ; all the eggs
appear to be on the point of hatching."

These observations are principally made on trees near by my house, which are in no
way protected from the weather; some neighbors' trees are hurt worse and some less
than mine. At some distant places I hear that the trees are much worse hurt by the
frosts than they are here. If I have the opportunity I will go to some of these places
and examine the coccids. From the notes you will see that if we do not have any
more severe cold than we have had the insects will have a very large number to
start the year with. The cold appears to have only killed the most exposed coccids ;
those on the defoliated twigs suffered much more than those on twigs full-leav.d,
but in no case, on the most exposed parts of defoliated branches, have I found all
killed. I have been careful to observe this; it recalled the survival of some on tin-
exposed sides of trees in the storm in September. They evidently have different in-
dividual powers of resistance to vicissitudes of the weather.

There has not been any actual stop to reproduction during the fall ami winter, and
the cold weather has only postponed hatching and maturity. This was shown by the
progress made in spreading from twig to twig, but the general periodical broods
appear to have been broken up into small periods, governed by the character of the
weather.

There has not been the usual activity on the part ot parasites, as shown by perfo-
rated scales.

The effect of the frost on the coccids here may be summed up as follows: Hatch-
ing and development retarded, a small portion of larva" killed, but not enough to be
of service to the tree. — [Jos. Voyle, Gainesville, Fla., January 1. 188
9C76 3

J

INDEX.

Agrotis inermis injuring smilax, 27
Ants, inqnilinous beetles in nests of, 15

several species of, on yucca blossoms, 9
Army Worm, at Saratoga, 1882, 27

in Louisiana, 1882, 27
Artemesia ludoviciana, a sage resembling, 20
Aughey, Prof. Samuel, notes on C. spretus, 5

B.

Bad lands, what composed of, 9
Baker, I. G., & Co., favors from, 8
Bee-fly, on sun-flower and thistle, 9
Broadwater's Landing, geological formation

near, 11
Broom-corn, keeps off C. spretus, 8
Brunei-, Lawrence, letter from, 29

reference to report by, 5

report by, 7-22
Burning possible at Ft. Buford, 10

Caloptenus bivittatus at Bismarck, Dak., 9.

differentialis similar to Melanoplus j

devastator, 11
larvae of, noticed, 9
occidentalis at Bismarck, Dak., 9
pupae of, noticed, 9.
spretus, localities collected, 5, 7, 8, 9,
10
breeding locality of, 7, 11
possibility of its continued
breeding in the vicinity of j
Fort Buford, 10
Carnnula atrox, habits of, 15
Chinch Bugs, experiments on, 2;}
Chipnian, Col., post commander, hospitalities

from, 8
Cicada, the Seventeen-year, in N. Y., 31
Cicindela cinctipennis, captured atFt. Buford, 10
Circotettix carlingiana collected near Ft. Mo-

Leod, 13
Clover-leaf Weevil, spread of, 2cS
Conder, W. J., letter from. 27
Cook, A. J., letter from, 32
Corn-meal Worm vs. Confectionary, 28
Correspondence, extracts from, 27.
Cotyle riparia, nests of, 19
Cotton Worm, Fast Indian remedy for. 32
Coulson Steamer Line, favors from. B
Curtis, F. D., letter from, 27

D.

Davis, Mr., statements as to history of Locust in-
vasions, 17

E.

Elaphidion villosum, boring wistaria, 30
Emulsions of kerosene, used on Chinch Bugs, 23
Entilia sinuata eating thistle, 29
Ephestia zeae eating confectionary, 28
Epicauta callosa, collected at Ft. Buford, Dak., 9
sericans, collected at Ft. Buford, Dak., 9
Extracts from correspondence, 27
Eufitchia ribearia in Dakota, 9

F.

Forbes, Prof. S. A., report of experiments on

Chinch Bugs, 23
Forshay, Simon, letter from, 31
Fort Buford, geological formation near, 11
Fort McLeod, appearance of country about, 14,
16, 17, 18, 19
insect fauna near. 15
Frost, effects of, upon Scale Insects, 33
Fuchsias, Graptodera carinata injuring. 27
Fungus growth on Honey-dew, 30

Geometrid larva* on wild gooseberry. 9
Gladstone, Wm. S., interview with, on Migratory

Locusts, 17
Gooseberry, wild, Geometrid larva on, 9
Government saw-mill, camp located at. 7
Grain, enormous numbers of beetles in. 32
Graptodera carinata injuring Fuchsias, 27

H.

Hagen, Dr. H. A., information from, 5

Haltica pallicorni*. injuring smilax. 27
Henshaw, Mr. Samuel, information from, 5
Ilippiscus coralipes, collected at Bismarck, Oak..

9
Hirundo horreorum, nests of, 19
Hubbard, H. G., letter from, 31

I.

Insecticide. ;i water-proof. 82

[aosoma tritioi in Washington Territory, 30

Kerosene emulsions, used on Chinch Bug. 33

36

INDEX.

Lsernophlseus alternans in stored grain, 32
Lepidoptera, scarcity of, in Dakota, 9
Leucania unipuncta in Louisiana, 27
Locust, Rocky Mountain — see Caloptenus spre-
• tus

in air, 5, 10
numerous species of young, noticed at

Fort Buford, 9
Rocky Mountain, Is there a remedy
for? 22
Lonsdale, Edwin, letters from, 27, 28
Lucas, C, letter from, 32
Lyons, Rev. J. A., letter from, 30

M.

Mansfield, G. W., letter from, 29
Melanoplus devastator, habits of, 11
Meloidae on blossoms of sunflower and thistle, 9
Mockett, J. H.Jr., reference to, 7
Mytilaspis gloverii, aid of spiders in the spread
of, 31

• N.

Northern Pacific R. R. Co., favors from, 8

Palorus depressus in stored grain, 32
Parlatoria pergandii, aid of spiders in the spread

of, 31
Petrochelidon lunifrons, nests of, 19
Pezotettix dodgei, species resembling, 16

obesa, species resembling, 16
Phytonomus punctatus, spread of, 28
Plateau du Coteau du Missouri, 10
Plumer, Win., letter from, 32
Prickly Pear, probable insectivorous habits of, 10
Pronuba yuccasella at Ft. Buford, Dak., 9
Pyrameis huntera at Ft. Buford, Dak., 9

K.

Read, M. C, letter from, 30
"Riley's Peak," naming of, 12
Robinson, Lieut., Hospitalities from, 8

s.

Salix longifolia, Zerene eatenaria feeding on, 13
Sand hills south of the Niobrara, locusts hatched

in, 5
Scale insects, aid of spiders in the spread of, 30

effect of frost upon, 33
Schizoneura imbricator, 30
Scorias spongiosa on honey-dew, 30
Seventeen-year cicada in New York. 31
Silk-spinning mite, 29

Silvanus surinamensis in stored grain, 32
Sioux City, young locusts reported as hatching

in vicinity of, 9
Smilax injured by insects, 27
Snook, L. D., letter from, 28
Spiders, aid of, in spread of scale insects, 30
Starner, J. A., letter from, 30
Stenobothrus, spp. at Bismarck, Dak., 9
St. P., M. and O. R. R., favors from 8
Sugar-cane, reported case of, saving crops from

C. spretus, 8
Systoechus, sp. found at Ft. Buford, Dak., 9

Talbot, D. H., statement by, 8
Tetranyehus telarius, a mite near, 29
Thistle, an insect enemy to, 29
Tinea zeaj injuring confectionary, 28
Treat, Mrs. Mary, letter from, 29
Triodites, species collected in Dakota. 9

V.

Voyle, Jos., letter from, 33
W.

Wheat Isosoma in Washington Territory, 30
White, Dr. C. A., notice of observations on C.

spretus, 5
Wickersham, J. W., letter from, 28
Wistaria-borer, 30

Y.
Yucca angustifolia, moths on blossoms of, 9

Zerene eatenaria, larva of, feeding on Salix lon-
gifolia, 13

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