Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-01-08
History and Habits ofthe Grasshopper.

-'AA gOsItiUu IN Cnurge OF the Immigra-
tion 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 persons do not
entirely harmonic, but they agree sub
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 of the Rocky Mountains.
There they are dlioays, 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 4;
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.
tance they look like light cloud rapidly
riding on the wind, and under the blaz-
ing MONDAY sun they glitter like snow
nakes, extending from near the ground
to the height of half a mile, but cast
gloomy shadow on the earth. When they
drop down to feed every green and gay
thlng Is covered i'll 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 lust
below the head, and the grain falls to the
ground.
Corn is their staple; they go 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.
Dage, 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
place, if the weather is warm and the sky
clear; hut sometimes week, if the
air is chilly and very damp, and the sky
cloudy. Alter 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
they have been known to
hatch during the second year. But out
Of twenty swarms this happened only
three times. In other cases they have
ended their existence and their race, in
any given place, in one year.
or those which invaded Nebraska this
year, 1874, the first swarms laid eggs IN
several counties; but the long, dry fall |
latched them out and thus stopped fur !
her production.
The swarms that came last seemed to
nave been Matched too far north and too !,
ate in the season to come to maturity, |
md consequently they laid no eggs. Ali |
hese perished in the first frosts.
II will be several years before their ma
i've land will be over-cTowded, and when |
hey rise up to migrate they will be as
likely to go in one direction as another,
From extensive correspondence in Ne.
'raska, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota il
$ aseertained that no eggs have been
aid that will hatch next spring, except
n part Of one county in Kansas.
Ever since the year 1S49 the plains
ave been travelled over constantly, and
he movements of this Desert Locust, as
should be called, have been noted. In
IL this time there has been no such
evastation as this year, nor is IL likely
nat there will be a recurrence of this
alamity for many years, and let us hope
ever.
The number of persons made destitute
nd dependent on aid from abroad for
ne next six or eight months is not very
llly ascertained. But for the last two
r three years there has been a heavy