The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-08-06
THE CHRISTOPHER PLAGUE.
IRREGULARITIES OF THEIR DESTRUCT
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IRREGULARITIES OF THEIR DESTRUCT
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One of the settlers who had been
driven away from Southwestern
Minnesota by the ravages Of the
grasshoppers has given the Minneap-
4olis Tribune some account Of their
troubles. He says:5 sa.staa afa'g.
a There are just four Of us, three
boys and our mother. Our names
are Larsen, Andrew and Gennel
Larsen, We have lived in Walton
wan county for eight years, and have
been fighting against fate for nearly
all that time Two years ago the
violent hail-storm destroyed our
crops. while the merciless grasshop
pers devoured our subsistence last
year, We planted our fields again
this year, but the fearful pests have
again attacked us, and we have been
obliged tofee for our lives. Our
crop has been destroyed, and our
whole farm laid waste. We were
obliged 10 leave or starve 10 death.
The grasshoppers are about an inch
and a quarter in length when full
grown. Of dusky grayish color, the
heads being Of a reddish color, and
the under wings when spread exhib-
ting a yelIowish or copper color
The eggs Of the insect are ovate in
form, Ut grayish color, and about
the size Of a wheet-corn. They are
deposited in the ground and under
the grass and stubble in clusters.
They are generally laid the last Of
July or lst Of August, and hatch out
in June, according to the weather,
When first Matched they resemble
little flying insects, but they soon
develop Into full-fedged grasshop.
pers- AS soon as they are Matched
they commence TO feed until they be-
gin to swarm or form into Aocks,
when they rise and visit other feed
ing grounds. They fly in the air
in vast clouds, almost en-
tirely obGterating the sun. While
In the air at distance they strongly
resemble an immense snow cloud.
In their fight the lower ones are
aboutforty feet above ground, wAiel
they extend upward beyond human
sight. They settle upon field of
grain glittering in the sun, with the
heads OF wheat nodding in the breeze,
and alighting cover the stalk of each
spear Of grain from the root to the
head. In an incredible short time
the entire field is destroyed, and the
ravenous destroyers leave only a.
barren waste behind them. While
at work upon the grain field looks
fairly brown with them. They do nor
eat the grain, but bite into the ten
der stock and juicy kelnal, and suck
the vital sap from the young plant.
When they rise the entire field is dead
and in a few days dried up When
the young grain is attacked before it
is headed cut the entire spear is eaten
off, leaving only field of stubbIe.
In some cases TIE trees and every
green thing are attacked, but their
varacious appetites are principally
appeased with grain and garden stuff
There seems to be no remedy. II,
however, the grass was burned over
In the spring, | think many Of the
eggs would be destroyed. The fall
fires do not seem to do any good.
Water and frost seem wholly made
quate to destroy them. The only
enemy they have is "a little red para
site that gets under their wings.
These little worms eat their way in
to the yitals Of the insect and destroy
Its life. The dead grasshoppers
seem covered with these little
worms"