BITING AND NOXIOUS INSECTS OTHEB THAN MOSQUITOES 45 



Locusts 

 This year, 1905, the question of locust destruction has come prominently into notice. Locusts 

 Various parts of the Sudan have been visited by swarms of these destructive insects and 

 great damage has been done in some districts — notably about Kamlin and in the Berber 

 Mudiria. Khartuum lias nut been exempt, and the whole question is a very serious one for 

 Agriculturists. One took the opportunity of the visit of Professor Werner of Vienna to the 

 Sudan, and enlisted his kind help in the identification of such specimens of Sudan locusts as 

 had been collected. The following have been obtained : 



Acrida variabilis Schistocerca peregrina 



Aerida nasutus Acrydium aegyptium 



Pcecilocerca hieroglyphica Acrydium succinctura 



Phymateus Hildebrandti /Erotylus patruelis 



Gastrimargus, sp. ? 

 In Khartuum the commonest species is PcecUocercn hieroijli/pJnca which haunts the 

 Ilshar plants (Calotrojn-i j^i'ocera) while the swarms which visit us are usually composed of 

 the yellow SchiMocerca pevegrina or the bro^\'nish-red Acridiimi atiiiptliim. 



I was requested to prepare some instructive notes regarding locusts and locust destruction 

 and these are introduced in this article. They make no claim to originality save possibly as 

 regards their arrangement, and care has been taken to include only simple and easily 

 managed methods of prevention or destruction. The information was derived in part from 

 the Sudan Instructions of 1901, supplied by the British Museum authorities, from French 

 and American sources, and from various works and pamphlets on the subject. 



Locust Prevention and Destruction 



It is verv important that correct information be obtained regarding the breeding places Locust 

 of locusts in the Sudan, having respect both to locality and season. It is also desired that prevention 

 prompt preventive and destructive measures should be taken on the appearance of these destruction 

 pests. 



The following items of iufurmatiun are furnished. From a study of these you should p^^^ ^f 

 be able to educate some uf the natives so that they may help to furnish the requii-ed Memorandum 

 information and be led to take an interest in locating the breeding grounds and destroying 

 the eggs and insects. 



1. Locusts are : — 



(o) Permanent ; (A) Jligratory. 



2. Swarms uf locusts alight un the gruund fur twu pui-poses : — 



(«) Tu lay eggs; (/-) To feed. 



3. A locust dies as soon as its eggs are laid. 



4. The eggs are laid in clusters in the soil, preferably in undisturbed land aiul where 

 there is bush and grass. Moist land is usually avoided but the banks of water courses 

 constitute favourite localities. 



5. With their sterns the female locusts bore holes in which the eggs are laid. These 

 holes look rather like the pits made by rain drops. 



6. The presence of holes does not necessarily mean that eggs are present. It usually 

 means that the locusts have been disturbed when laying, as when the act is complete the 

 holes are carefullv covered. 



