256 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Detailed directions for the control of this pest have been pub- 

 lished in many State and Federal Government reports. Among these 



methods of control are 

 the plowing of land in 

 which its eggs have 

 been deposited, the 

 use of poisoned bran- 

 mash as a bait, and 

 catching of the insects 

 Fig. 282. — Melanoplus differentialis. (From Riley.) by machines com- 

 monly known as ' 'hopper dozers. ' ' 



The red-legged locust, Melanoplus femur-rubrum. — This is the 



Fig. 283. — Schistocerca americana. 



most common short -homed grasshopper 

 States, except where Melanoplus 

 spretus occurs. It ravages our 

 meadows and pastures more than all other 

 species combined. It is found in most 

 parts of North America. The female is 

 represented, natural size, by Figure 279. 



Melanoplus hivittdtus. — This species 

 is also foimd from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific. It is marked with a yellowish 

 stripe, extending along each side from 

 the upper angle of the eye to the tip of 

 the front wing (Fig. 280). The length of 

 the body varies from 23 mm. to 40 mm. 



This locust is often killed by a para- 

 sitic fungus. Dead fungus-infected in- 

 dividuals are frequently foimd clinging to 

 weeds, up which they have climbed to 

 die (Fig. 281). 



Melanoplus differentialis. — This spe- 

 cies is slightly larger than the preceding; 

 and it lacks the prominent yellow stripe 

 (Fig. 282). 



Schistocerca americana. — This magnifi- 

 cent species occurs in the Southern States 

 and has been found as far north as Con- 



(From Riley.) 

 throughout 



the United 



Fig. 284. — Brachystola magna. 

 (From Riley.) 



