48 



the authorities, ably assisted by the efforts of settlers, have been carrying on a vigorous 

 warfare with marked results, which will doubtless save their crops from devastation next 

 season. 



Melanoplus atlanis, Riley, the Lesser Migratory Locust. — ^This locust, which very 

 frequently becomes very injurious on account of its excessive increase, is somewhat 

 smaller than the Rocky Mountain species. It is also migratory in its habits, but to a 

 much less degree than is spretus. In its distribution this insect is much more widely 

 spread than the preceding, being common in almost all parts of our country from the 

 Mexican boundary to the fifty-third degree of north latitude, and even beyond in some 

 parts of the country. It is the species which most frequently does the locust injury in 

 the New England States, much of that in our Northern States, and some in the extreme 

 Northwest. It has also been known to become injurious even in the Middle or Southern 

 States. In its distribution atlanis appears to be more partial to hilly or mountainous 

 country, and especially is this noticeable in reference to its appearance in destructive 

 numbers. It also seems to prefer wooded or mixed country to the open prairie or 

 plains. 



As would naturally be expected from its wide distribution, this particular locust 

 presents some variation in its size, color, and, to some extent also, its structure. At any 

 rate there appear to be three well-marked forms of the species to be met with within the 

 confines of North America. 



Melanoplus devastator, Scudd. — A third species of the genus Melanoplus is the one 

 that occasionally appears in destructive numbers in portions of California and the 

 adjoining States. It is about the same size as the atlanis just mentioned, and often does 

 considerable injury to the crops of the regions where it occurs. Although this locust is 

 known to inhabit almost the entire region lying to the west of the main divide of the 

 Rocky Mountains and to reach even beyond in Montana and Colorado, it has never, to 

 my knowledge, been injurious except in Nevada, California, Arizona, and Oregon. This 

 species also occurs in two forms, viz., small and large, being the spring and fall broods as 

 nearly as I have been able to decide from specimens in collections. 



Melanoplus bivittatus, Say, the Two-striped Locust. — This is our common species of 

 native grasshopper all over the country, and the one that so frequently becomes injurious 

 in our gardens and about the edges of fields. It occurs from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 

 and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Saskatchewan. Its increase in destructive numbers 

 appears, however, to be confined chiefly to the regions lying between the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and the Atlantic. This locust also appears to vary considerably in its size and colour. 

 There are, however, two well defined forms, the one receiving the name bivittatus and the 

 other going by that of femoratus, the latter occurring only northward. 



Melanoplus dij^erentlalis, Thomas, the Differential Locnst. — Next to the species just 

 mentioned we frequently find a second species of our large native locusts appearing in 

 destructive numbers. This latter species occurs in the Western and Middle States only, 

 and here is very often known to become unduly numerous and destructive to both the 

 field and the garden crops. It has been reported at different times to have been present 

 in such numbers in portions of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. 

 A melanic or black form is quite frequent in portions of Nebraska and Kansas, but 

 otherwise it is quite permanent in its character. 



Melanoplus ponderosus, Scudd., the Ponderous Locust. — An insect very closely 

 related to the preceding is that known to the entomologist by the above name. It is a 

 native of several of our southern states, and has on several occasions been a depredator 

 of crops in portions of central Texas. As the name would imply, it is of robust form, 

 and has a somewhat similar appearance to the dij^erentialis. 



Melanoplus femur-rubrum, De G., the Red-thighed Locust. — Last on the list of 

 destructive locusts for North America north of Mexico, is herewith presented the one that 



