Experience with an Outbreak of Gi'asshoppers. 275 



has shown any merit as a destructive agent against the boll weevil? 

 Personally I cannot see how anything could be accomplished with it, 

 but thoupht possibly I might be mistaken in my conclusions. Any in- 

 formation you can give me regarding the matter will be appreciated. 



Answer was made to the above that observations on the use 

 of plaster of Paris for protecting cotton from grasshoppers 

 were not sufficient to be conclusive. Boll weevils did not come 

 under consideration at all since none were seen in the fields 

 owing to tbv" land having been overflowed during the year pre- 

 vious. The actual facts in the case were given in order to 

 make the matter clear, emphasizing the point that the problem 

 of suppressing the grasshoppers was not yet solved. 



The prevailing species in the outbreak proved to be the 

 common redlegged grasshopper, Melayioplus femur-^mbrum 

 DeG. When first observed, on June 8, this insect occurred 

 chiefly in the unfledged stages. The youngest form had then 

 attained to a growth seldom measuring less than one-half 

 inch; the nymphal stage varied from five-eigths to seven- 

 eigths inch in length. The adult males averaged about three- 

 fourths inch in length of body, or one inch to tip of wings, and 

 the mature females slightly exceeded the males in length. 

 Great numbers of the insects had reached the adult stage on 

 June 14. 



The short-winged species, P.aroxya hoosieri Blatch., was 

 rather commonly associated with the red-legged grasshopper, 

 appearing as nymphs on June 8 and as adults on June 14. 

 These two species were identified by Mr. A. N. Caudell from a 

 collection submitted by Mr. J. L. Webb. 



Specimens of Chortophaga viridifasciata DeG, in adult form 

 were occasionally found on June 14 and August 7. Also, ex- 

 amples of the following katydids were seen to be scatteringly 

 dispersed among grasshoppers: Scudderia furcata Brunn., 

 adults taken June 8; and Conocephalus fasciatus DeG., both 

 nymphs and adults on same date. These determinations were 

 furnished later by Mr. A. N. Caudell. 



Agricultural Experiment Station, Baton Rouge. 



