Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-15

The Mormon cricket-wingess. long
horned grasshopper which sometimes
travels in close packed bands square
mile or more in areas due to descend
upon the crops of the Rocky Mountain
area this Summer. according to warn
ings issued by Department of Agriculture
entomologists.
An advance of millions of these insects,
devouring every green thing in their
path. is perhaps the most striking phe-
nomenon of insect life in America. 1t
was first noted in 1848, when the early
Mormon settlements in Utah found
themselves threatened with total loss of
their food supply by such an invasion.
At that time there was nothing the
settlers could do to save their fields
except pray. Prayer proved sufficient,
for suddenly the despairing pioneers saw
great flocks of sea gulls flying over the
mountains. The birds devoured the grass
hoppers by the millions and may have
been responsible for saving the lives OF
the people. 1t seemed like miraculous
Intervention, in direct answer to their
supplications. monument in the temple
grounds at Salt Lake City commentaries
the service Of these birds.
Since then much has been learned
about the habits of the grasshoppers and
man relies upon director methods of COM
batting them. The Department of Agri-
culture has 100000 appropriation to
make war upon them with sodium ar
senate fired from dust guns. This is
described as q "two-way'' poison. The
crickets eat some from their legs and
antennae. They also breathe the dust.
In 1848 the sudden appearance of such
vast army of bugs might well have
seemed an Intervention of satan in the
normal ways of nature. Entomologists
now know that it is an entirely natural
phenomenon. Normally the grasshoppers
live in the mountains, feeding on the
natural vegetation and doing little dam
age. Periodically the numbers increase
to the point where there is not enough
food and the insects descend upon the
cultivated fields. This is particularly
true in times of drought. Such an out
break may last from two to six years
until stopped by the weather, natural
enemies or man. The present one started
in 1882 and, with succession of dry
years, has increased ever since. This
year is expected to be the worst on record.
Last year the sea gulls appeared again,
as in 1848, and were of considerable aid
in fighting back the pest. In some I'M
known way the birds sense great abun-
dance of food over the hills.
In an advancing band there are from
40 to so crickets to the square foot
Sometimes the bands are so close to-
gether that they merge into an enrmous
horde covering thousands Of acres. A
migrating horde gives the ground the
appearance of moving. The bands move
continuously through the day. Unless
disturbed they travel straight ahead.
They never go around an obstacle, but
hurdle it, or attempt to do so. Any
sudden noise frightens them and their
solid front eddies of into side waves as
they scurry for cover.
Fortunately the death rate of Nor
mon cricket band Is high. They attack
and devour their fellows that, through
injury or weakness, are unable to defend
themselves. They are so large and clumsy
that they are an easy prey to natural
enemies. Great numbers Of birds always
follow the cricket bands. Chickens and
turkeys gorge themselves upon them.
Migrating crickets, the Agriculture De-
partment entomologists have found, make
an excellent target for dust guns. Dense
bands are busted as they move. Stray
elers are herded together by barriers
10 - - inches high and caught IN pits