Mmj 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 419 



method of control. However, expf-riments here and in America and South 

 Africa, have not shown fungus to be reliable. In isolated cases, and with 

 warm moist condition?, swarms have been infected, but mechanical means 

 seem as yet to have given the best results. 



With reference to parasites, two fly parasites, Sarcofhaga pachytyli and 

 S. aurifrons, have been known to be attacking grasshoppers here for many 

 years. It is not to be expected these parasites will annihilate their hosts, 

 though towards the end of each summer they may increase sufliciently to 

 affect a large percentage of winged grasshoppers. Most of the damage, and 

 much of the eggdaying is accomplished before the efltcts of the parasites are 

 noticeable. Similarly mites, egg parasites, and predaceous insects play their 

 part in reducing the swarms. An increase in the host seems necessary 

 before there is a marked increase of the parasite. But it does not seein 

 consistent with the fact of a parasite being in existence that, under natural 

 conditions, it should annihilate its hosts, and thereby itself. 



Control of the swarms by mechanical means would require general action 

 throughout a district. A scheme is necessary, embracing the marking-off of 

 the egg beds in late sunniier when the swarms are laying, scarifying these to 

 expose the eggs to frost, birds, and insects. Again the following spring the 

 young hoppers hatching from the egg-patches should be sprayed with oil or 

 carbolic and soap washes as before indicated. Each swarm destroyed then 

 means the prevention of damage by that swarm and two vastly increased 

 swarms it would produce later during the summer. Such a scheme would 

 need organisation, inspectors, lal)<)ur, spraying-tanks, fire-carts, <tc., but in 

 estimating the value and cost of such an undertaking the immense saving of 

 grass and crops must be considered if some 50 or 60 per cent, of the grass- 

 hopper swarms were destroyed before doing any damage. In ordinary 

 seasons theie is often grass enough for both the stock and the grasshoppers, 

 but in the dry seasons the supply is short, and tlie amount destroyed by 

 hoppers may then be worth thousands of pounds to each large station. 



REFERENCE TO PLATE. 



Smaller Plain Locust (Chortoicetcs pimUa, Walker). 

 Upper portion — Group of males about female as she deposits her eggs. 



A. — 1. Egg-bore. 



2. Female in act of depositing eggs in egg-bore. 



3. Eggs in sheath removed from egg-bore. 



4. Eggs. 



B. — Male with wing expanded. 

 C. — Side view. 



E 



