The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-01-07
History and Habits Of the GrasshOpper.

My position in charge of the lmmigra-
ton Bureau of Nebraska, one of the
States ravaged in part by the grass
hopper, has led me to inquire into the
history and peculiar habits of these de-
structive insects.
have consulted many persons who
have given the subject much attention for
many years. The statements and opin-
ions of these numerous ,ersons do not
entirely harmonic, but they agree SUBJ
stantially in the most important respects.
The abiding home of the grasshopper
is found on the high, dry plateaus of New
Mexico and Arizona and the southern
foothills vi the Rocky Mountains.
There they are alaodys, for it is their con-
genial home. In some seasons, especially
adapted to this end, they multiply with
astonishing rapidity, and become too
numerous to subsist.
Then, like bees, they swarm and mi
CRATE to other countries They follow no
rule of emigration, but go with the wind.
They fly until they become weary and
hungry, and then drop down to rest and
eat. They do not all go at once nor to
one place. They become widely sep
arated and much divided after starting !;
but in almost any case, whether the
grand army or some principal detach-
ment, they are as the sands of the sea,
myriads of millions Coming in the dis
lance they look like light cloud rapidly
riding ON the wind, and under the blaz-
ing n-day sun they glitter like snow
flakes, extending from near the ground
to the height of half mile, but cast a
gloomy shadow on the earth. When they
drop down to feed every green and gay
thing is covered in a moment, and the
earth is gray and dismal Only few
things do they disrelish-as sorghum,
broom-corn and the peach. Wheat and
oats, when the straw or grain is green,
are devoured in few hours.
When the straw or grain is somewhat
dry and tough they eat off the stem Just
below the head, and the grain falls to the
ground.
Corn is their staple; they 90 for the
tassel and silk Gf these are OUT, then the
tender grain, scrambling and crowding
each other like hungry pigs. They are
very fond of potatoes, beans and cab
bage, but onions are their most delicious
morsel-they will dig into the ground for
the last particle.
Usually they remain not more than
twenty-four to forty eight hours in a
place, if the weather is warm and the sky
clear; hut sometimes a week, if the
air is chilly and very damp, and the sky
cloudy. After leaving their native home
they have never been known to propa-
gate in their colonies more than three
years, and that but twice in the history
of the United States. Somewhat more
frequently they have been known to
hatch during the second year But out
If ttrn nfxrG hopyn-aI 81
three times. In other cases they have
ended their existence and their race, in
any given place, in one year.
Of those which invaded Nebraska this
year, 1874, the first swarms laid eggs In
several counties; but the long, dry fall
Matched them out and thus stopped fur
ther production.
The swarms that came last seemed to
have been Matched too far north and too
late in the season to come to maturity,
and consequently they laid no eggs. All
these persisted in the first frosts.
1t will be several years before their ma
tive land will be over-crowded, and when
they rise up to migrate they will be as
likely to go in one direction as another
From extensive correspondence in Ne
braska, ( ansas, Iowa and Minnesota it
is ascertained that no eggs have been
laid that will hatch next spring, except
in part of one county in Kansas.
Ever since the year 1849 the plains
have been travelled over constantly, and
the movements of this Desert Locust, as
it should be called, have been noteu In
all this time there has been no such
devastation as this year, nor is it likely
that there will be a recurrence of this
calamity for many years, and let US hope
never.
The number of persons made destitute
and dependent on aid from abroad for
the next six or eight months is not very
fully ascertained. But for the last two
or three years there has been q heavy
tide of immigration to the interior and
frontier of this fair State, where millions
of rich acres have been awaiting the
brave pioneer, and the number who must
be helped or suffer actual hunger and
nakedness will probably be found to be
between 600 and 10000. To all these
the State Aid Society will issue an allow
ance Of food for about 200 days. Cloth
ing also sufficient to prevent suffering
will be judiciously bestowed through the
same efficient and watchful agency, and
seed to plant the smitten district will be
furnished either by the State or nation,
or botn, and be equitably distributed,
when this calamity will be over past, and
Nebraska be herself again.
J. H. NoTEwARE,
State Superintendent Of Immigration Nebraska