The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-31
From the Scientific American.
EXPERIMENTS WITH THE LOCUST
EGGS.
BY PROFESSOR G.. V. RILEY .


There are many questions respecting
the manner in which the eggs OF the
Hockey Mountain Locust are affected
under different conditions, which are
of intense practical interest, and which
are frequently discussed with no def
mite result being arrived at, or no pos
tive conclusion drawn. Such are, for
instance, the influence Of temperature.
moisture, and dryness upon them; the
effects of exposing them to the air. OF
breaking open the pods, of narrowing
or blowing them under at different
depths, of tramping upon them. Ev-
erything, in short, that. may tend to
destroy them OF prevent the young To-
Gusts Matching, is of vital Importance.
With a view of settling some Of these
questions, and in the hope OF reaching
conclusions atmight prove valuable.
have carried on during the past win
ter series of experiments which will
be reported in detail in my 9th report,
and the conclusions drawn from some
of which | give you herewith:
Nine experiments, to test the effects
of alternately freezing and thawing,
showed that: 1st, the eggs are far less
susceptible to alternate freezing and
thaWing than most OF us, from analogy,
have been inclined to believe. Those
who have paid attention to the subject
know full we'll that the large proper
ton of insects that hibernate on OF i'll
the ground are more injuriously affect
ed by mild. alternately freezing and
Al %Io, hxyo ctn ! Ixr0 0Id
and severe one; and the idea has quite
generally prevailed that it was the
same with regard to our locust eggs.
But if so, then it is more owing to the
mechanical action which, by alternate
expansion and contraction of the soil,
heaves the pods exposes them. than to
the effects of the varying tempera,
lures. 2nd. that suspended develOpe.
ment by frost may continue with
, impunity for varying periods, after the
the embryOn is fully formed and the
Young insect is on the verge of hatch
ing. Many persons, having in mind
!, the well known fact that birds eggs
, become added ifincubatiOn ceases be-
fore completion when once commenc
ed. would. from analogy, come to the
SdIIlt cOuCIuSIOll NItH W viz AZ
, Gusts eggs. But analogy here is al
= unsafe guide. The eggs Of insect:
;. hibernate in all stages OF embryonic
development. and many of them will
the larva fully formed and complete
: within. The advanced development
. of the locust embryo, frequently no
;, ticed in the fall. argues nothing bu
q very early Matching us soon as sprin!
q opens. Their vitality is unimpaire'
by frost.
a \ series of sixteen experiments, t.
n test the influence of moisture upon tn
!. eggs. establish a few facts that wer
. somewhat unexpected. | give one o
the experiments as a sample. The IL
!. sect is deniZen of the high and arr
,. regions of the northwest and has ofte
o been observed to prefer dry and sum
d places. and to avoid wet land, for plll
q. poses of oviposition. The belief tina
o. moisture was prejudicial to the egg
lg has. for these reasons, very general
,e prevailed. The power which they e,
$. hibit of retaining vitality and {
to Matching under water or in saturate
n ground is, therefore. very remarkab
10 the more so when viewed in come
es ton with the results obtained in TT
he succeeding experiment. That tt
q eggs should hatch after several week
or submergence and that the young i
,ir sect should even throw off the pos
he natal pellicle (ambiou) was to me qui
he a surprise, and argues a most wonde
as full toughness and tenacity. Aft
of being dried and soaked for over S
weeks. under conditions that approa'
he to those of spring. found a good pr
of portion of the eggs TO contain fu
er- formed and living young larv
m. which. though somewhat shrunke
ise and evidently too weak to ha'
an made their exit. were still cab
cd BILE of motion. The water evident
oh retards Matching. An examination
oh the submerged egg that remained L
are Matched. long after others had hatch
nlv which had been under similar tire;
IN ment I'D to certain time and til
he transferred to earth. showed the ia
An and tibial spines to be still quite SO
90. It is. therefore. in preventing t
IN, proper hardening of these deliveri
,c+- points that water doubtless retal
rhe the Matching. and preventg its acco
~ plishment long before the embry
81. perishes. Yet. when once life
aa+ gone. the egg would seem to rot quiz
cd er in the water than in the ground.
ure The experiments. further. Pre-
of conclusively that water III winter I'll
Der, when subject TO be frozen. IS still
Don Injurious to the eggs. Altogeth
one these experiments give us very Iii
are encouragement as to the use OF wa
sed. as a destructive agent; and we
ans readily understand how eggs L
anv hatch out.as they have been known
,ior- do. in marshy soil. or soil too wet
con- the pillow. or even from the bottom
hey ponds that were overf1owed uuI
hib- winter and spring. The only lnsta
feat in which water can be profitable U
.ost u.horo tho land can he flooded Il