48 Studies in Kansas Insects. 



Summary. 



TAXONOMIC. 



The Melanopli of Kansas number thirty-nine species, which are in- 

 cluded in six genera. The following table shows the distribution of the 

 species among the genera: 



Genus. Species. 



1. Hypochlora 1 



2. Campy lacantha 3 



3. Hesperotettix 3 



4. Moloplus 2 



5. Melanoplus 29 



6. Phcetaliotes . , 1 



Total 39 



The greater number of specimens have been collected in the central 

 and western part of the state between the years 1909 and 1914. Campy - 

 lacantha vivap, Melanoplus scitus and Melanoplus discolor are now re-, 

 ported from Kansas for the first time. 



The females, particularly of the genus Melanoplus, are very difficult 

 to classify, and unless they are found with the males can not always be 

 placed with the right species. The greatest variations in individuals of 

 the same species are the color variations. These variations depend upon 

 the time when the insect was taken (they are much lighter shortly after 

 the last molt than later on), the method of preservation, etc. 



All species of Melanopli found in Kansas are native to the state. The 

 Rocky Mountain locust, M. spretus, the only migratory representative, 

 has not been found in Kansas for twenty years or more. It is now ap- 

 parently extinct here. 



BIOLOGIC. 



The olfactory sense is very keenly developed in the grasshopper. Ex- 

 periments in the field showed that the insects detected the poisoned bait 

 as far as fifty feet away. 



The method of oviposition of the female is very much the same in all 

 the species. A rather firm place is chosen, and from 30 to 100 eggs are 

 deposited. In every case where the females were dug up during the act 

 of oviposition the abdomen was found to have a decided backward tilt 

 and was not curved under the body of the insect. 



ECONOMIC. 



The Melanopli include most of the economically important grass- 

 hoppers. M. differ entialis, M. bivittatus, M. atlanis, M. femur -rub rum 

 and A. regalis do more damage than all other species put together. The 

 most important enemies of the grasshoppers are several species of flies, 

 beetles, birds, chickens, turkeys, and fungus and bacterial diseases. 



To prevent the increase of grasshoppers the eggs should be destroyed 

 in winter or early spring by disking the fields. For control measures 

 the hopperdozer does very efficient work where it can be used readily. 

 The poison bran mash has been found to be the most satisfactory way 

 of controlling the grasshoppers, and when applied as directed the danger 

 of killing fowls and other animals is eliminated. 



