124 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



1. AMERICAN LOCUST. 



( Schistocerca americana. ) 



One of the most beautiful of our locusts or grasshoppers is the American Locust. 

 Tliis insect, while it is a serious pest in the central and southern states, has been 

 reported, probably for the first time, in Michigan during the past summer. Specimens 

 were sent here from three widely different parts of the State — Springville, Lenawee 

 county: Frankfort, Benzie county, and Berrien Springs, Berrien county. They were 

 not said to be injurious in these places and only occasionally seen. 



While this insect has never been known to be injurious as far north as this, its 

 large size makes it a formidable enemy when it comes in large swarms, as it does 

 farther south. In places where it abounds it is fought in the same waj' as we fight 

 our grasshoppers — with poisoned baits, hopperdozers, etc. 



2. ONION THRIPS. 



{Thrips tabaci Lindeman.) 



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Fig. 1. Onion 



Thrips. Thrips tabaci, immature. 

 (Original.) 



Toward the latter part of September com- 

 plaints were made that a louse or some 

 minute insect was attacking onion tops in 

 the vicinity of Chelsea, Michigan. Spec- 

 imens of such onion tops were found to be 

 infested by a species of thrips ( Thrips 

 tabaci), the great majority of the insects 

 being in the wingless or immature stage. 

 They are very small, green, inconspicuous 

 creatures and seem to prefer the auxiliary 

 region where two leaves approach each 

 other. The effect of their depredations is 

 noticeable at some distance. The tops be- 

 come stunted and sickly, turning whitish 

 wherever the insects congregate. The leaves 

 sometimes decay if the weather is wet, and 

 the keeping quality of the onions is said to 

 be impaired by the work of these pests. 



On examining some of the plants on the 

 College farm, they were found to be in- 

 fested. 



The immature insects, which are far more 

 plentiful than the adult, are about 1-24 of 

 an inch in length and yellowish green in 

 color. They are so small as to be almost 

 imperceptible to the unaided eye. but a 

 careful examination reveals them in close 

 proximity to the white spots on the onion 

 tops. Tliey appear, when greatly magnified, 

 somewhat as represented by P'ig. 1. The 

 body is long and tapering, with six legs 

 near the anterior end ; the antennae or feel- 

 ers are six-jointed, and the feet are like 



