The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-12-29
LOCUST PLAQUES.
Onslaught Of the Ravenous Tribe
During an Invasion.
CAUTIONS BY THE MILLIONS.

The Devastating Armies Fly In Clouds
Dense Enough to Obscure tho Light
of the Sun-The Hoppers That Come
After the Crops Are Deyoured.
There are several species or varieties
of the migratory locust, which are
mostly to be found in dry, semitropical
countries, such as the south of Eu-
yope. Egypt. Syria and Morocco, for
their native home seems to be in the
countries bordering on the Mediterra-
mean, though migratory locusts are to
be found in regions as remote as South
Africa and South America, where they
form veritable scourge to the agri-
culturists. In Argentina, especially
the northern half of the country, they
are very destructive, for they will an
initiate the farmers entire crop in q
few hours.
\ locust invasion, writes John p.
I.eckie in Chambers Journal, is an
event not easily forgotten. The first
sign Of the approaching incursion is
usually a long. dark cloud low on the
horizon. But the dark cloud is no
forerunner of rain. Instead of the
precious liquid. which the farmer has
probably long expected in vain, it pOr-
tends the approach of his greatest en-
envy. the omnivorous locust.
AS the dark cloud comes nearer it is
seen to be composed of countless mil
lions of locusts on whirring wings.
Soon the cloud appears overhead and
is sufficiently thick to obscure the sun,
which is only seen opaquely, as
through a mist, although the sky is
cloudless and the air clear.
Now we are in the midst of dense
swarm of flying. whirring locusts,
which dash into our faces, enter our
houses and fill our rooms with their
| presence. The air is simply alive with
them. All open wells must be instant
| ly covered or they will be polluted.
Fowls and turkeys welcome the ad-
vancing hordes. They simply fatten on
the locusts as they run around and
gobble them up. But this is no bless
ing to the farmer-far from it. for the
flesh of poultry becomes so tainted by
this form of diet as to be quite I'M
eatable. and even their eggs have an
unpleasant taste.
So well is this fact known that as
soon rs the locusts make their appear
ance in the locality the price Of eggs
drops to one-half or one-third of their
former figure, and even then there are
few buyers. All the animals about the
| farmyard seem to b. affected adverse
ly. for even the horses have strong
aversion to eat grass which has been
polluted by the presence Of locusts. and
unless very hungry they will not touch
it.
The advance of the locusts takes
place as follows: First few pioneers.
the advance guard of the vast army,
then the main body of the army. host
which is as invincible as it is destruc-
tive. All true locusts are migratory by
nature. for the simple reason that. be-
ing gregarious in their habits, it would
be impossible for them to exist with
out continual migration.
The ground on which they settle is
completely cleared in few hours. and
they must perforce seek other fields
and pastures new, where they can re-
peat their depredations. For the same
reason the destruction which they ef-
feet is purely local. One district may be
completely devastated, while another a
few miles away is altogether spared
from their presence.
When the locusts have eaten their
fill the females commence to deposit
their eggs. which they do by making
an opening in the ground, in which
the eggs are laid. The infant locusts
soon make their appearance, scarcely
so large as pea, hopping about in
countless swarms. In this stage Of
their existence they have no wings,
but progress by hopping. While in
this state--that is, before their wings
are developed-they must be ruthlessly
destroyed
4 Long trenches are dug. into which
the "hoppers'' are driven by rows Of
men, women and boys armed with
branches Of trees. with which they
beat the ground, driving the insects in
the direction of the trenches. On the
opposite sides of the trenches sheets Of
galvanized iron are placed upright SO
as to form an effectual barrier.
j On arriving at the trenches the "hop-
pers" fall into them and cannot easily
make their way out, especially as
their progress is barred by the wall of
galvanized iron in front Of them, the
smooth surface of which affords them
no foothold.
The trenches are soon filled with mil
lions Of young "horpers,". the weight
of those above crushing to death the
under strata of their fellows. Earth
is then shoveled on the top Of the
seething mass Of insects, and they are
thus smothered and killed.
This is the most effective method Of
exterminating the locusts, but in order
to insure the success of the operation
it is necessary that the attempt should
be properly organized and that all the
neighbors should act in concert
| Providence Journal