The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-08-01
THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS
PESTIFERoUs INSECT.

ed much attention by its ravages.
G Locusts had several times been
known to do damage to vegetation in
Manitoba and Minnesota as early as
1919, when they are said to have been
very numerous. Indians speak of hav-
ing, seen them flying in great swsrms
in the air, but as there we're no culti-
vsted fields for them to destroy, they
we're thought nothing of. There is no
account of their doing much damage
, before 1874. Whether swarms of
these insects visited those districts as
often prior to their settlement as they
have since, it is not easy to ascertain.
The breeding places of the locusts
in the West have been arid plains ele-
waited above the surrounding country,
where the wind is brisk; they are
treeless and without rank vegetation.
When the insects migrate from the
West to the East, as they have been
doing lately, they find no such plains,
but they seem to have faculty OF
adapting themselves to their sur
roundings. Dampness spoils the eggs
80 they will not hatch. The general
opinion is that as soon as these lands
are settled and cultivated and trees
planted, which will not be many years
hence, the locust will be greatly di-
minished, If not driven entirely from
our Western States.
Eggs laid in June often hatch in
July, but the time required varies
greatly in different latitudes, at
various attitudes, and at different
times of the year. The young, after
Matching, require from forty to sixty
days in which to mature, varying, of
course, according to the state of the
weather, the abundance of food, and
also their vigor.
Soon after Matching the little fellows
begin travelling in search of food, as
they are generally Matched on grounds
partially bare. In very short time
they moult or shed their skin, which
operation is performed four more times
in most cases before arriving at matu-
rity.
The larva quits feeding and becomes
detected and drowsy, creeps to some
sheltered nook and there fingers for a
time, when the skin of its head and
thorax cracks and it wriggles itself
out, a soft and tender looking hopper.
Soon, however, the tender limbs and
body become dry and rigid, and the
locust is again in trim for its raids.
Its appetite is now very keen from its
late fasting, and it devours everything
in its way that is eatable.
The principal change from the lsrval
to the adult locust is the acquisition
of wings. The wings are developed as
folds of the integument and strength
ened by hollow rods called "veins."
There are in the veins of most in.
sects six main veins. These usually
contain an air tube and nerve. The
arterial blood flows through them, so
that the wings of insects act as lungs
as well as organs of flight. As soon
as the wings of the locust are fully de.
veloped it leaps into the air, unfolds
its hitherto-untried members and takes
short flight. Each one does this for
himself. Then soon, when there is a
brisk breeze blowing, great numbers
with one accord spring into the air
and begin rising In a circling manner
until they have attained sufficient
altitude, when they permit the wind
to carry them along.
They do not fly but float on tho
breeze, with their face to the wind.
When hungry they come down and
feed and then are off again. This con-
tinues until near the time for deposit
ing their eggs
1t is evident that the enormous
powers of flight possessed by the
locust, especially Its faculty of sailing
for many hours in the air, is due to
the presence of n great number of air
sacs. 1t will be seen that, once hav-
ing taken flight, the locust can buoy
itself up in the air, constantly filling
and reflling its internal balloons with
out any muscular exertion, and thus
be borne along by favorable winds to
its destination.
The number of enemies of this
dreaded pest is "iegion." Professor
Sam AughY says that during a period
of twelve years, he disseeted $50 birds
of ninety different species, all show
ing their great fondness for the locust
as food. Not only wild birds, but all
kinds of poultry eat them with avidity.
Even squirrels, mice, chipmunks,
weazles, skunks and larger animals
devour them in great numbers. All
reptiles and fishes do great deal to-
ward lessening the numbers of this as
we'll as other injurious insects. How
ever great is the destruction OF locusts
by these animals which we cannot see,~
it is carried on in a much larger scale
by insect parasites which we do not
notice. These are very numerous in
species and individuals. Some of
them confine their attacks exclusively
to the eggs; others to the young; and
still others only destroy the mature
locust.
The locust also has internal para
sites, which do much toward dimin-
ishing this dreaded pest.
In view of all the enemies, includ.
ing man, this poor insect has, il is
truly surprising that single one at
tains maturity. New York Sun.