Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1881-09-08
CHRISTOPHER EGGS.
Remarkable Case Of Retarded Development

Early in the summer | received state
ment from Prot. l. d. Graham. of the Kan
sas State Agricultural College, of Manhat-
tan, to the effect that he had hatched out
some young locusts from eggs which had
remained latent since the fall of 1879. While
the occurrence did not strike me as lmpos-
sible, it was, nevertheless, SO remarkable
that [ entered into correspondence with him
with view of getting absolute proof of the
accuracy of his statements. The young To-
Gusts which he sent me for Identification
proved to be Calopteuus spretus, or the de-
structive Rocky Mountain locust, and all
the facts connected with them are so we'll
attested that there is no doubt in my mind
as to their trustworthiness.
About the 18th of September, 1876, the
chemical labratory building Of the Kansas
State Agricultural College was completed,
and the grounds Immediately surrounding
it were graded
In the process of grading the bits of stone,
mortar, and the clay which remained after
the excavations and work of building had
been completed, were used. The eggs of
Catoptenus spretus were found in large mum,
bers, and when the college grounds were
graded. many of them were buried. The
specimens in question were buried to depth
OF about ten inches, and remained in that
condition until the third week in NAV. 1881,
when some workmen, who were regarding
the grounds, discovered them AS they
looked quite fresh after long burial, Mr..
Graham concluded to try the experiment of
hatching them out. He placed them under
favorable conditions, and in due time was
rewarded by the appearance of an active
brood of young locusts, OF which he for
warded samples to ME.
When discovered in May, these eggs were
surrounded by black earth. This earth was
enveloped in closely packed clay, which, in
turn, was covered with ''spalls,' mortar
and other building rubbish. In 1876, when
the grading was finished, plank walk was
laid alongside of the bnilding and above
the buried eggs. This walk had never been
when the eggs were found.
In view of all the facts in the case, Mr.
Graham believes that the walk so shaded
the ground that the suns influence did not
penetrate very deeply into the earth at this
point. and also that the peculiar compost
ton of the earth surrounding the eggs
would keep them cool, moist, and In an al
most airtight place, all of which are conti-
tons favorable for preservation.
However this may be, the fact that the
eggs did remain in the ground unmatched
for nearly four and half years seemed un-
deniable, as also the iurther fact that the
young when Matched were as active and vo-
racious as their remote parents had been.
The question arises as to how much longer
eggs so situated might have remained un-
developed and sound, and it opens up a
most interesting field for experiment.
1t is not my purpose to discuss here the
general influence of temperature in acceler-
ating or retarding animal development,
nor the many curious cases of retarded de-
velopment among insects that are totally
independent OF temperature. Semper, in |
his recent work on Animal Lite, has an ex-
cellent chapter on the influence of tempera-
ture, especially as soIthe optimum reqnired
for the favorable development Of the differ
ent species. AS a ru rising temperature
stimulates and acceIerates growth and de-
veiopment, and hlling temperature re-
tards or torpifies, and this holds true with
egg of Caloptenus spretus, as I have shown
In experiments recorded in my ninth report
on the insects of Missouri and in the first
report Of the chronological Commission.
But there are many strange exceptions, as
in the heat coma Of tropical ANIMALS, the
summer dormancyo Of certain lepidopterous
larvae, and the retarded development of in
1ividuals placed in the very same conditions
under which Others normally develop,
There is, therefore, much mystery vet con-
1ected with the subject which offers most
INVITING field for experiment, not only as to
he other influences affecting retardation,