May 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 411 



Notes on Grasshopper (or Locust) Swarms in 

 New South Wales during 1907-8. 



larger Plain Locust 



{i'hiu'ton't^tt's 

 tcniiinijera). 



WM. B. GURNEY, 



Assistant Entomologist. 



■Grasshopper swarms having caused much damage to grass and crops at 

 intervals during the twelve months up to March, 1908, a summary of the 

 habits, dates of appearance, and methods employed here and elsewhere 

 <against these pests will, perhaps, be of use, and suggestive to farmers and 

 stock-owners. 



The species most widespread and 

 <lestructiveduring the period above- 

 mentioned is Chirrtoicf'tes terinin- 

 ifera (see Fig. 1). Belonging to the 

 family Acridiidre, it is a short-horned 

 grasshopper, or locust, in the true 

 sense of the latter word, and not, of 

 course, to be confused with the singing 

 Cicadas — the so-called locusts of the coastal districts 

 of New South Wales 



Winged swarms of this grasshopper were reported 

 to have appeared in certain western districts during i i 



March and April, 1907, and spread from the Darling River eastward to the 

 Bogan and ^Vlacquarie Rivers. They damaged crops here and there in their 

 course, and finally deposited their eggs in the ground, and were noticed to 

 congregate and lay in certain defined patches ; sometimes in cultivation 

 paddocks, but frequently on bare patches in the grass paddocks, roadsides, etc. 

 The enormous numbers of eggs thus deposited gave rise to the swarms of tiny 

 hoppers which appeared in September and October, 1907, and spread in 

 armies from their various egg-beds upon the surrounding grass or crops. 

 During these months reports were received of their appearance, and the 

 damagH they were doing, from Dandaloo, Trangie, Nari-oinine, Nevertire, 

 Coonamble, Dubbo, etc. 



Visiting Trangie and Coonamble during the first week in October, I found 

 the grasshoppers in various stages of development, from tiny, recently-hatched 

 hoppeis to almost full-grown specimens, and odd mature (winged) ones. They 

 were not travelling in any definite direction, but spreading in dense swarms, 

 and so numerous that the ground appeared to move and quiver as one walked 

 through them. While young, and with a fair food supply, they advance in 

 irregular lines ; as they get older, or where the grass supply is short, it seems 

 they scatter somewhat, though still congregated in patches. Within three 

 weeks of mv visit great numbers were on the wing, and throngliout thp 



