192 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



rapidity. The eggs are laid in the ground around the bases of the trees. 

 An area of at least fifty square miles of forest was completely defoliated 

 by these insects during that and the previous year. 



Melanophis spretus. — The Rocky Mountain or Migratory Locust. 

 This is the insect which is generally referred to as the destructive locust 

 of North America, and has caused more injury during the past twenty 

 years than any dozen of the other species combined. It is this species 

 which we most fear, on account of its migratory habits — so marked is this 

 trait that swarms hatching on the Saskatchewan have been traced to the 

 Gulf of Mexico in one season. Its habits have been so frequently 

 described that further mention is unnecessary. Suffice it to say that at the 

 present time it is again decidedly on the increase along our northern 

 boundary. During the present year reports of its injury were received 

 from Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba, by the Department of 

 Agriculture, and upon investigation I found these reports to be only too 

 true. In Minnesota and Dakota the authorities, ably assisted by the 

 efforts of settlers, have been carrying on a vigorous warfare with marked 

 results, which will doubtless save their crops from devastation next season 



Melanophis atlanis, Riley. The Lesser Migratory Locust. 



This locust, which frequently becomes very injurious on account 

 of its excessive increase, is somewhat smaller than the Rocky Mountain 

 species. It is also migratory in its habits, but to a much less degree than 

 is spretus. In its distribution this insect is much more widely spread than 

 the preceding — being a common one in almost all parts of our country 

 from the Mexican boundary to the 53rd degee of north latitude, and even 

 beyond in some parts of the country. It is the species which most fre- 

 quently does the locust injury in tlie New England States, much of that 

 in our Northern States, and some of that in the extreme north-west. It 

 has also been known to become injurious even in the Middle and Southern 

 States. In its distribution atlanis appears to be more partial to hilly or 

 mountainous country, and especially is this noticeable in reference to its 

 appearance in destructive numbers. It also seems to prefer wooded or 

 mixed country to the open prairie or plains. 



As would naturally be expected from its wide distribution, this parti- 

 cular locust presents some variation in its size, colour, and to some extent 

 also, its structure. At any rate, there appear to be three well-marked 

 forms of the species to be met wit4i within the confines of North America. 



