5 



the odoriferous skunk, are recorded as rendering signal service in 

 destroying this pest. 



The locust finds, however, its most unrelenting enemies within its 

 own class. Predacious beetles rummage the ground for egg-pods. 

 The life-histories of several Hies are prominently connected with that 

 of the grasshopper. The larva or worm stage of several flies and bee- 

 tles feeds upon numbers of eggs. The Red Locust Mite ( Tromhidium 

 locastarium) early in the season attaches itself to the body or wing- 

 pad of the locust, remaining there eating away the wings and sapping 

 the strength of the locust until the mite is full grown, when it drops 

 off and makes food of the locusts' eggs — a twofold enemy. 



A tachinid fly, resembling somewhat the housefly, lights upon the 

 back of the grasshopper while the wings are spread in flight and de- 

 posits an egg; this soon hatches as a whitish maggot. It works its 

 way into the interior, feeding upon the vitals of the locust until the 

 death of the 'hopper results. 



Artificial Remedies. — Under this head crops as well as means 

 must be considered. One of the f)roblems is: 



Alfalfa and the Grasshoppers. — A study of the habits of the grass- 

 hopper and the conditions of growth of alfalfa in the western half of 

 the state reveals the fact that alfalfa is conducive to 'hoppers. The 

 ground in an alfalfa field is characterized by its freedom from other 

 smaller vegetation; as the farmer says, the alfalfa kills out other 

 grasses and weeds, leaving many open bare places. The soil is sandy. 

 Here we have the conditions for deposition of eggs — sandy soil, free 

 from the interference of trash or fine rootlets. 



When newly hatched, the young 'hopper, if forced to travel far be- 

 fore securing nourishing food, will perish. In the alfalfa field this 

 risk is removed. The alfalfa, an early sjjring grower, furnishes him 

 an invigorating meal upon his first ajDpearance on earth, giving him 

 strength from the moment of birth to hop away from pursuing foes. 



Here are conditions highly favorable to preserve the "native" 

 grasshoppers in destructive numbers. So clearly is this the case, that 

 alfalfa promises well to become as noted as the home of the 'hopper, as 

 wheat has been as the home of the chinch-bug. Conditions for his 

 growth are good; conditions for his artificial destruction are equally 

 good. 



Alfalfa growers who have given it the test are unanimously of the 

 oi^inion that "disking" the alfalfa ground in the autumn is highly 

 beneficial to the crop, Mr. R. E. Edwards, of Kinsley, who has about 

 1,000 acres in alfalfa, hopes to be able to disk his whole tract. Mr. 

 Geo. W. Watson, president of the Alfalfa Land and Irrigation Com- 

 pany, Kinsley, has large tracts of alfalfa which he will treat in the 



