The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-27
A PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.
Large Sections Of the West
Overrun by the Pest.
Great Damage in the Infested Re-
gion by Their Depredations.

Professor Otto Lugger, the entomologist OF
the Minnesota State University, has been up
in the Otter Tail locust region and has
brought back interesting reports of his OBJ
servations there. 1t appears that the
condition of things up there is very
much worse than was generally sup
posed. The region infested by the
locusts consists of 100 square miles, and Pro-
fessor Lugger states that he found the
locusts averaging 12 to the square inch.
They are the genuine Rocky Mountain
locusts that have done so much damage
in these Northwestern regions in
the past. Their actions are not,
however, after the ordinary pattern
of the conduct Of these insects, and so afford
a chance for much interesting study. They
have made this region their feeding ground
for four years. In each year they have done
much damage, but never SO much as they are
doing now, for the reason that they are swarm
ing in so much greater numbers. The inhab-
itants of the region have kept strangely Silent
on the subject, fearing that if the report got
out that the 'grasshoppers' were doing
to the whole region. The Professor thinks
this course has proved injurious. II some
vigorous action had been taken at the start
the locusts might have been extermlnated.
Now it will be great fight.
A great deal Of damage has already been
done and good deal more must be done IN
the future. Twelve insects to the square
inch means enough to destroy about all the
vegetation that can grow in one season; IN
fact, there are parts of the country where
every trace Of vegetation has been eaten to
:he ground. This entails much suffering al
ready and gives promise OF SO much more
that the farmers in many instances are NOV
ing out of the country.
Prof. Lugger came back for help. GOV.
McGill gave him four carloads OF materials,
and thus equipped the Professor has gone
back to fight the enemy. The main weapon
is sheet of canvas Is feet wide stretched
upper edge Of this which is kept
filled with petroleum. This is al.
lowed TO run down gradually over the can
vas The canvas is drawn along over the
fields, and the locusts, flying up against 1t,
come in contact with the petroleum saturated
canvas. A single touch is enough to kill them.
This method Of warfare against the insects has
been found to be very effective, but when such
large areas nre infested tits, OF COURSE pretty
big Undertaking to attempt to exterminate
them in that way. II an effort had been
made in the spring. while the eggs were de-
posted in the ground, much more good might
have been accomplished. Of course there Is
great danger that the infested region will be
greatly enlarged. ,.
Dispatches from several points in Illinois
and Iowa say that the locusts, which are
making their appearance in such great num-
bers, are not molesting the fruit, grain or
vegetables as yet. The only damage done is
the killing of young and tender trees, many
of which die from the incsions made by
the insects in depositing their eggs The
Secretary of the Iowa State Agricultural So
ciety says he has received information from
Muscatine that there are millions Of locusts
iu that county, but that no special damage
has yet been reported.