Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-06-23
How to Destroy GrasshOppers.
(By Prof. ]. P. O'Gara)

/
ally every where. The members of
the family acrididae are very prolific
and often increase in such numbers
as to cause great ruin to vegetation.
Many species migrate long distances
and leave a trail of devastation in
their wake.
The female grasshopper deposits
her eggs during the fall months at
the bottom of holes an inch or two
deep, drilled into the soil. The
holes are drilled into even the hard
est soil by the lower abdominal parts
of the female. The winter is passed
in the egg stage, all adult grasshop-
pers usually dying when winter sets
in. The eggs are thoroughly pro-
tected from cold and moisture by a
fluid cement secreted by the female
for this purpose. In the spring or
very early summer the young grass
hoppers emerge from the holes in
the ground and feed upon any green
vegetation in sight. At first they
are so small as to pass unnoticed by
the average observer. Until after
the molt of the first skin, and often
till after the second or third molt,
the young nymphs feed very close to
where they are hatched. There are
usually five molts before the adult
stage is reached. Although there
are several species which are known
to be very destructive, the devastat-
ing locust (melanoplus devastator)
has been the most common offender
in the Pacific coast valleys. The
different species vary more or less
in their life histories, but the out
line as given above is approximately
that of the species which interests
us.
The control of grasshoppers is
quite difficult problem. AS a rule,
their appearance is so sudden that
the farmer has little time to make
preparation for their destruction.
However, our present knowledge of
the various methods of control
makes this pest less dreaded than
formerly. The reclamation of arid
or uncultivated lands and the ex.
tension of agriculture into the foot
hills where large numbers are hatch
ed will greatly reduce their numbers
The destruction of the egg is always
effected by cultivation. In alfalfa
fields the eggs which are deposited
in the fall are readily destroyed by
discing or cultivation with the
springtooth The cultivation will
also be beneficial to the alfalfa.
The methods of control, asid,
from cultivation, are: Cd Poisoning
CD protection by covers, CD use o.
repellants, (4) catching and destroy
ing by means of the "hopper-dozer,
CD smudges, CD natural control
Several poisons have been used, bu
the best are as follows:
l. POisOns.
Poison bran:
! Bran, 40 pounds.
Molasses, gallons.
Or brown sugar, 10 pounds.
Arsenic (white), pounds.
The bran should be wet so thai
water can be squeezed out of it
Then stir in the molasses Cor sugar.
and arsenic. Let the mixture stand
over night and stir well before plac-
ing in the field. The poison should
be scattered in small piles about the
size of an egg throughout the in.
Tested area. 1t is always best tc
place the poison in front of the in
vading line Of insects. In this way
it is often possible to prevent their
entering a field. The bait should be
occasionally moistened or renewed
Remember that it is much easier to
poison a young nymph before it has
eaten very much green food than
after il has attained some size.
Criddle Mixture:
There are several formulae fol
this mixture, but the following is
the one generally advised. 1t has
not been so effective on the coast as
in the east and middle west, prob
ably due to our drier climatic condi-
tions
Fresh horse dung, 60 to 10O
pounds.
Common salt, 2 pounds.
Paris green or white arsenic,
pound.
The Paris green (or arsenic) is
first mixed with water and then
thoroughly stirred into the horse
dung with the salt, 1t may be nee
essary to add small quantity O
water. This mixture should be al
= lowed to stand from twelve to TWEEN
Y ty-four hours before scattering.
d may be placed in small piles of
J. half Snadeful