The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-07-24
;mmhe Eatm.
LOCUSTS AND GRASSHOPPERS.
MR.. RILEY's REPORT.

shocked at learning the restitution
caused in Kansas, Nebraska, and other
western states, by the visitation OF a
plague of Locusts or Grasshoppers
equal to that of Egypt. Prosperous
families were brought to the verge OF
starvation, and though aid was given
in large sums, there was great distress
and suffering This Spring there are
accounts of the appearance OF these
insects from the eggs deposited by the
devastating hordes which came last year
and great anxiety is felt as to the
immediate future of the localities visited
last year, and fears are entertained lest
the insect has provided a stock which
will migrate still further eastward, and
repe at in the Valley of the Mississippi,
the devastation of which last year Kan
sas and Nebraska were the scene. Last
wear there was a talk in Missouri OF
abolishng the Office of State Entomolo-
gist. 1t was much regretted that
State which had been so far in advance
of all others in this matter, should
propose backward step, but fortunate
" better counsels prevailed, and we
have in the Seventh Report of Prof Z.
V. Riley, very full and interesting
history of the Rocky Mountain Locust.
The report is not of so much value
because it tells how to avoid the vista
tions of the insect, or how to destroy 1t
when it comes, as these are imposslblll-
tiss, but it gives all that is known OF its
habits and it's occurrence in former
wears, suggestions as to remedies, and
descriptions of its natural enemies, all
illustrated with engravings and maps
of the devastated regions. An IN
known enemy is more to be feared than
one with whose strength and whose
weapons and tactics we are familiar,
and the assurance which this report
gives to the people of Missouri that
should another invasion take place, it
will not, reasoning from the past, extend
easterlv beyond certain line, and the
further assurance that there is no prob
ability that the insect can permanently
establish itself in the State, is worth
more to the people of the commonwealth
than the expense of maint aiming score
of entomologists, and it is hardly likely
that we shall hear any more of abolish
ing the office filled with such eminent
ability by Mr. Riley The great invasion
of last year. is regarded as being in
part by insects Matched in their proper
home in the mountain valleys of Color
ado, and the neighborng territories,
and in part by those Matched further
east, the progeny Of less extended in
vasiou in 1878. The injury caused this
wear by locusts, so far as we have seen,
is due to those hatched from the eggs
deposited last year. We have not space
to give even full synopsis of Mr..
Riley's report, but we present few
points of present interest. The eggs
are preferably laid in high, dry, sandy
places, in tolerably compac. soil. The
tail end of the female insect is furnished
with two pairs of horny valves, with
which, from their peculiar structure,
she is able to drill a hole in few
minutes, deep enough to bury the whole
abdomen, the tip of which reaches an
inch or more below the surface. When
the hole is finished, she deposits the
eggs, which are enveloped in glutinous
fluid, which holds them together in a
long cylindrical pod, which is covered
with adhering particles of earth. There
are from 80 to 100 eggs laid side by
side in the mass, each, about OILS to
O2o inches long, pale yellow, and
slightly curved The eggs remain in
the earth until spring, when the young
hatch and appear on the surface
The pupa in these insects is active,
and from which it changes to the per
feet insect, with fully developed wings
the whole from the Matching to the per-
feet state require about two months.
The belief that those Matched away
from their native country will not pro-
gress still farther eastward, is founded
upon their previous history, and the
idea that the insects so produced are
not healthy, and do not breed. Several
pages of the report are devoted to the
natural enemies of the Locust, among
which, besides the birds, are numerous
insects: mite attacks its eggs; another
mite attaches itself to the insect +; a
Tachina-hy deposits its egg within the
body of the locust, the resulting mag
got from which destroys its hosts the
ommon Flesh-hy destroys share Of
7e>Seble ones. Before such myriads
of locd>-s, when they descend upon O
neighborhood, man is powerless the
advent is SO sudden, and the mischief
is done with such rapidity, that nothing
will prevail against them; but severa
remedies or rather preventives are pro
posed for use against those Matched
from the eggs by the horde Deer
blowing in the fall will turn the eggs
under so far that but few will hatch
Where irrigation is practicable, flood the
ground for few days will destroy the
vitality of the eggs. To destroy the
young, wingless locusts, the use of the
roller is advised; they may be driver
into windows of straw, which is theI
set fire to, and the insects thus destroyed
as the insects, when young, cannot fly
they may be driven by beating with
brush, and when the advance guard i:
started in the desired direction, the resi-
follow in this manner they are driver
into bitches, caught in sacks and killed
they may be killed with broad wooder
shovel, attached to handle at prope
angle. The young locusts do not like
loose surface. and keeping the sol
loose by cultivation will do much t.
keep them away from the crops. The
winged insects avoid smoke, and some
special trees and small tracts have beef
saved by keeping up a continuou:
smudge. Mr.. Riley makes one sugges
ton which he will find few to adopt
The locusts eat up the food of the PEG
pie, then let the people eat the locusts-
he does not put it in that language, bu
he does suggest that in time of scare
ity and famine, locusts might be uset
as food. 1t is we'll known that cak,
made of pounded locusts, or "grasshop
per gingerbread" as one traveller calls
it, is favorite food with the Digge
Indians, and whites might do mucI