Preventive remedies are harrowing and cross-harrowing land in the 

 fall, where eggs have been laid. If ground is to be cultivated the fol- 

 lowing year, fall plowing is equally effective. Destructive means are: 

 Where ground is smooth and crops small, crushing the young un- 

 fledged locusts with heavy roller. Where ground is rough and crops 

 too high for rolling, the use of the " hopper-dozer," an illustration of 

 which appears on plate V (fig. 12), with full directions for use, 



Concerning the " hoioper-dozer," Prof. Lawrence Bruner, of the 

 University of Nebraska, but for this year employed by the govern- 

 ment of the Argentine Republic to study, with a view to checking 

 their ravages, the locusts of that country, says: 



By all odds the best method of destroying these insects is the use of the 

 "hoijper-dozer," or kerosene pan. This is made of stovepipe iron, by turning up 

 the sides and ends about four inches, so as to make a long, flat pan about four 

 inches in depth. This is then mounted on runners, varying in height according 

 to requirements. On the frame back of the pan is stretched a piece of cloth to 

 prevent the insects from jumping over the pan. When ready to begin work the 

 pan is partially filled with water ; then some coal-oil is added. The height of 

 the runners will necessarily vary from 2 to 8 or 10 inches, according to crop to be 

 protected and age of the insects to be captured. The machine may be of any 

 length desired, up to 16 or 18 feet. When full, the insects can be removed, a 

 little more oil added, and the machine again started. In this way a number of 

 bushels of 'hoppers can be destroyed in a single day. The cost is trifling and the 

 remedy efl^ectual. 



We have given the two most successful artificial remedies. Oth- 

 ers are advocated, but have never been so successfully used. Bran 

 poisoned with Paris green will be of value in protecting garden plats 

 or small areas, but in large fields the "hopper-dozer" is universally 

 proclaimed the most successful means of destruction. 



DESCRIPTIONS. 



The genus 3felanoplus contains our most destructive forms in this 

 state, and to this genus we will with one exception confine our de- 

 scriptions. 



THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST. 



(Melcinoplus spretus, Thomas.) 



The life-history has been given. With some variations this serves 

 equally well for other species. The adult male measures about 1^ 

 inches, the female Ij inches, from head to tip of wing. The color of 

 each is the same, a dirty olive and brown ; front wings with row of 

 dirty brown spots extending along middle from base to tip ; hind 

 wings transparent, with slight yellowish tinge at the base ; tibi?e of 

 hind legs vary in color from bright red to pale yellow, sometimes to 

 bluish. The young resemble the adult except in wings. The very 



