Grasshoppers of Kansas. 29 



Melanoplus spretm Uhler. 



In general appearance this species is very much like M. atlanis. This 

 is the famous and dreaded Rocky Mountain locust which invaded Kansas 

 in the early days and caused the complete destruction of all growing 

 .vegetation. It is the true migratory grasshopper, and has been known 

 to fly great distances. Although once very much dreaded, it has now 

 apparently become extinct. During the grasshopper campaign in the 

 western part of the state in 1913 no specimens of this species were 

 noticed. Its place seems to have been taken by M. atlanis, which occurs 

 all over the state but seldom becomes very numerous; even in the sum- 

 mer of 1913, although there were a good many specimens of this species 

 present, they were not as numerous as M. diff er entialis and M. bivittatus. 



Many people believe that our native large yellow grasshoppers, M. 

 diff er entialis and M. bivittatus, are migratory and fly great distances. 

 This erroneous belief is based partly upon the reports given out by the 

 old settlers of their experiences with the grasshoppers in the seventies, 

 but chiefly upon newspaper reports. Whenever there is a small out- 

 break of 'hoppers the newspaper reporters go back to their old files and 

 find an exciting article about the Rocky Mountain locust, and by adding 

 a few more of their own ideas they are able to present to the public quite 

 an "interesting" article. The article is usually accompanied by some 

 misleading illustration, and the people are led to believe that the grass- 

 hoppers on their premises have come from a far-away place, and if killed 

 or poisoned will be followed by another horde the next day. 



Melanoplus plumbeus Dodge. 



"Of medium size, very dark fusco-olivaceous, with bright luteous or 

 flaveous markings." Prozona of male sometimes a little longer than the 

 metazona; prosternal spine retrorse or appressed in both male and 

 female. Interspace between mesosternal lobes of female subquadrate. 

 Fore and middle femora of male more or less tumid; hind femora 

 trifasciate above with blackish olivaceous. Apical portion of male cerci 

 fully half as wide as at the base. 



Measurements in Millimeters. 



Length of body : 



Male 20.0-24.5 



Female 24.0-26.0 



Tegmina: 



Male 18.0-19.0 



Female 21.0 



Antenna? : 



Male 9.0 (approx.) 



Female 7.5 (approx.) 



Hind femora: 



Male 12.0-12.5 



Female 13.5-14.0 



Localities. Logan, Cheyenne, Wallace, Rawlins, Morton, Grant, 

 Thomas and Decatur counties. 



