The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-07-21
GRASSHOPPERS.
Prof. Lugger, the State Ent0m0l0gist,
Fears q Visitation.

A few days ago Prof. Otto Lugger,
the state entomologist, discovered in
the fields in the Turtle Mountain dis
trict, North Dakota, a speci-
men of the migratory locust or what is
commonly called the White Mountain
grasshopper. The presence of one in
sures the coming of others, but time
alone will tell in how large numbers.
1t is to be hoped that we may be spared
a visitation of these locusts for they
are most destructive variety. The
White Mountain locust is an epicure,
feeding only on cultivated GRIPS, dis.
daining to even taste of weeds. Farm
ers should keep close watch of their
fields and if any are found that they
suspect of being migratory they should
send specimens to Prof. Lugger and
also observe carefully where the insects
lay their eggs.
Prof. Lugger gives the following sug.
gestions as to methods by which the
pests can be killed They should be
read by every farmer:'
THE chief and safest method con-
sists in blowing the land known to con-
tain their eggs. By carefully inspect
ing the suspected fields in number of
places an approximate knowledge can
be gained as to the number of eggs
they contain. If a field has thus been
ascertained to contain eggs it should be
plowed at least five or six inches deep
If done properly and in time the very
great majority of eggs are prevented
from Matching or rather the young
locusts Matched are prevented from
reaching the surface. The best time
to pillow the fields is in the autumn.
Early in the spring is also a good time
providing the blowing is followed by
the usual spring showers. But even if
no rain should follow the blowing the
more or less violent winds of spring
will smooth and make the soil compact,
sufficiently so to prevent the great ma
jority of the young locusts from reach
ing the surface. Of course, the blowing
must be done thoroughly; simply
scratching the surface of the infested
field is of but slight use, though even
then many egg pods are torn to pieces
and numerous of the now unprotected
eggs are destroyed.
eff large fields are thus plowed we
secure another advantage; in case To-
Gusts should reach the surface they
find no food, and before they can walk
to other fields covered with plants they
starve.
Flowing is an excellent remedy
even after the locusts are Matched and
reached the surface. In such case
blowing should commence at the outer
edge OF field, and a number of plows
should be used at the same time, the
plows following each other as closely
as possible. The locusts are in, this
manner forced towards the center of
the field, where black mass of strug
Cling insects is crowded together. But
few of them escape, as one pillow makes
a furrow, this is rapidly filled with
locusts, the following pillow covers them
up and most are buried alive; those
that escape this fate have to starve,
and only few near the edges of the
field can save their lives
In order that stringent measures
may be taken to exterminate the pests
if they appear in great numbers, it is
necessary to have the advice of the
state entomologist, and every farmer
who has reason to suspect that they are
in his vicinity should communicate
with Prof. Lugger at the State expert
mental farm.