New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-25
THE GRASsHOPPERS IN NEBRASKA.

SMALL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE by THE INSECTS
THEIR DEPARTURE INTO MISUNDERSTANDING
OF THEIR NUMBERS BY PARASITES.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE]
LINCOLN, Neb., May 19.-Last year, as is
well known Nebraska suffered terribly from the ravages
Of the grasshOppers and was compelled to call upon the
more favored States for aid during the past Winter The
locusts came from the southwest entering the state
along the Republican Valley and pursuing northeast
ery route laid OF the fares portions OF the
State. Although they came after most OF thc sna gram
had been harvested the crop was almost destroyed
by them They disappeared in the northeastern part OF
the State; and although the flight Of some OF them
could be traced in Iowa. Dakota and Minnesota by far
the largest portion disappeared without leaving token
Of where they died.
Early this season it reported that the grasshoppers
had deposited their eggs in many places in the state,
along the route of their fight, and that the eggs with
the first days Of Spring were beginning to hatch
Within weeks past these reports have been more OF
less verified In several Of the southeastern counties,
where the ravages last very slight millions
OF young grasshoppes suddenly appeared and at once
No their destructive work The early wheat and oats,
the blades of which had appeared above the surface
were attacked and every field laid waste The insects
departed southeastery direction passing into Mis-
souri, where it reported, they continuing their
rayages Since their departure from Richardson county
and other southeastern counties Of this State however,
the wheat and oat fields again covered with blades or
these grans and there is doubt that the damage done
by grasshoppers is slight and that good crop
will be raised upon the fields over which the pests
travelled Replantng will not be necessary Indeed the
farmers that part Of the State to be congratulated
that the descended upon their fields carly in the
season. rather than just before the crops maturod Re
ports have been coming in daily asO Of the reappear
ance of the rasshoppers of the western counties
but the reports state that the number OF locusts
is so slight that danger is anticipated from them
Prof. Aughey of the Nebraska State University has
been engaged investigation Of the habits Of the
time general fear Of the pest in the State his opin
ions the insects looked upon with much con-
hdence Prof. Reilley, State EntomoOgist Of Missouri
has given tho subject special attention. and says
he of the opinion that the grasshoppers die out in aew
generations after their migration from their native sandy
or gravelly plains Prof Aughey fully sustans him In
this opinion and has made numerous experiments to YER
ify it, One experiment cOnclusivcly proves that the
more agile and more voracons than those Of
the succeeding generation Matched upon the soil OF this
asceTtaining low long they could without food
sSe since s6s aid no out This was owing chiefly
10 the extreme changes from wet TO dry ana rom
mat were it not for this long before this time the ocss
would from their enormous numbers have devastated
the entire country far east the Allan
tie Prof Aughoy further states that early $50 he
noticed that enormous numbers OF grasshoppers In Nor
and direction, but he unable to learn
bynquries made in many directions whittier most OF them
He asks il 1t is not possible that they may have
scared 30 high TO get into the trade winds, which
waited them into the but says this theory OF
needs vercatiOn Another interesting result OF
Prof Augeys investigations is the discovery OF small
parasites that feed the bodies OF the grasshOp
pers Three he first discovered these parasites,
but only about in hundred of the graSshOppeIS
seemed then be affected Two years these para
sites vastly and last fuy two
thirds of the CrasshOppers examined by the Professor
had from TO 80 OF these enemies OF their peace fas
tened upon them Thousands of grassbOppcrs fell dead
in crossing the Republican valley ana as they continued
through the country their flight the number OF the
dead was greatly augmented, and all OF them
seemed 10 be destroyed by this parasite eating
into their body at the base of the
County in the northeastern part OF this state last Au
gust his attention called 10 the fact tat these red
parasites dcvourDg the which the grasshop
pers rad laid This report he verified by examining
examined many localities around Lincoln where the
grasshOppers have appeared and in spots found the
ground covered with their bodies. Upon examination he
discovered they had been literally devOured by
the grasshoppers become numerous as to reduce the
numbers the Ocsts and release the land from their
rfyagcs Mr. Aughcy also gives it as his opinion that
grasshoppers always migrate i'll 80 or 40 days after
thCY hatclcd, those sections OF the State where the
Young insects devOurlng the crops or have
already devOured them this season, will be freed from
them least early the LIST of June BY that tme
Judging from their habits in previous years, q few
Even the devastated fields will have ample opportunity
to rccupcrate and may produce average crops unless
new hOrdcs from distant regions later in the sum-
rncr which is possible but not probable The present
outlook therefore is very good Little damage mas been
done this season. and the of young Er5shoppcrs
are certainly leaving the State. Unless fortunate
crcl iutcrycncs, Missouri Will sulcr this year as
NcO!ask4 did last year.