Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1879-09-11
PARASIrISED

During the past year the crops and
pastures Of Sierra Valley suffered moro
from the srasshopp.r or locust scourse
than sver before. scarcely q ranch escap-
ing moro or less injury from the swarm-
ina d~sstroyers. The farmers could only
esxs with sadaeued souls and sec their
crops 20 to destruction. with no help or
remedy that they know Of. They saw
the eggs deposited in the ground BY The
pests Of the previous year hatch out By
untold millions. and this year again they
know the ground is charged with these
eggs ten times as plsntiiully; therefore
the outlook for next scason is anything
but encouraging in this respect. They
noticed, however. with pleasure that the
locust had his personal insect enemy
rising up ds~structively in opposition;
the destroyer had his scouras. Professor
]. @. Lennon, the noted botanist and
sntomologist OF Sierra Valley. has stud.
led into the subject considerably. and
eiyes the result OF his observations In
the Truckse Rspub,iedn. We extract:
The 'red silky mite" 80 eagerly wished
for last Spring. 10 here In great abund'
snce, almost every locust In some sections
being loaded with them. especially at The
base and under the wings. 30 10 The
Tachina ty chasing swiftly after the hop
ping or flying locust. darting upon 1t and
depositing an egg. which speedily matches.
Rnaws III way through the joints the
abdomen 10 the interior. becomes . large.
many.legged maggot. swelling cut tho
body Of the locust and eating its viscera
fore and aft, until. weak and encumbered.
the victim falls and dies. Tho Gordins,
or hair worm. too. Is here, and several
other undetermined parasites, all seeming
70 riot upon the abundant food. A con-
Rsner Of tho atrocious locust himself. .
little yellow cricket about the same size,
but ten times spryer. IL seen to vigorously
attack the locust on foot or flying. to bring
him down, and instantly cutting on his
head, devours q morsel. then twirls his
antennR about and cocks his eyes for an
other victim. And this warfare upon the
locusts, q fierce onslaught from foes seen
and unseen. by day aud BY night. from the
egg TO the adult. 10 about the only feature
OF the locust scourge that 10 enjoyed by
our citizens. -.
And what OF the futurs7 When will
this visitation cease. or Is II overpsstl The
female locusts have been noted In vast
numbers ovipositing In gravel beds. In dry
hill. ~ Al. vaaaln~a and in thu aanda
under the sage bushes Of the common.
Those beginning this work early In the
season-in July-it 10 feared laid perfect
eggs and scared them we'll |; those later.
because 90 often found dead ct their work
with abdomen still prolonged down n
the ground. 10 10 hoped were prevented
from producing perfect eggs. or from pro-
tscting them by gummy secretions from
Injuries by Winter vicissitudes. The eggs
when frst deposited are small. about three
sixteenths Of an inch long. and so crowded
In the egg pouch that they pecome hex
agonal. but they grow by Spring to the
size Of rice kernels. and are plump cylin-
ders. Like the growth Of ants' eggs, and
OF certain other insects, this growth OF In.
sect eggs. often to twenty or n hundred
times original sire. Is . profound mystery.
Let persons examine the egg deposits
for minute parasites that infest the hated
locust Of the interior. One parasite, the
most widespread. 10 the Anthmyia, . small
fy about half an inch long from tip to tip
oil wings. Its larva. . white maggot about
. quarter Of an inch long whom mature,
infests the eggs. eating their ~contents. and
passing from nest to nest. Certain ground
beetles lay their eggs near the locust
pouches, and their larva. resembling the
Anthomyia. but larger. are very destruc-
tive. Ho who finds such larva In great
abundance emptying the locust eggs either
now. this Autumn. or in early Spring, will
make . hopeful discovery.