74 



Most of those noticed were winged, some still fresh from the pupa stage. In general 

 all the winged ones, when disturbed, moved southward, but nothing like a general migra- 

 tion was seen. At Lakin 1 was told by a Mr. Logan that a large black-winged grass- 

 hopper had been common near that place, and when winged had travelled uniformly- 

 southward. 



PARASITES AND DISEASE. 



The many parasitized grasshoppers noted indicated a multiplication of such forms, 

 and these will undoubtedly accomplish much in reducing the numbers that can deposit 

 eggs this fall, but I should deem it unwise to depend on them and to omit the active 

 measures already urged. 



The most general parasite was apparently the Tachina flies, as the great majority 

 of dead hoppers were found to be completely devoured within, and in most cases the 

 opening through which the maggot had issued was to be seen. Adult Tachimr were also 

 observed in the infested lields. 



Some of the dead grasshoi)pers had the appearance of having been affected with 

 Entomophlhora, and I gathered a number in order to make an effort to cultivate the 

 disease, but as yet have nothing to report in this line. The dfead hoppers will be kept 

 with living ones, and if the latter take the disease we may hope to still further mul- 

 tiply the disease by inoculating still others, and then an effort can be made to distribute 

 the disease in the lields. Its spread, however, is evidently slow, and I do not think other 

 measures should be neglected this season for a plan which is still uncertain. 



Among the natural enemies observed, toads were perhaps the most common, some 

 of the fields containing great numbers of them, especially of half-grown individuals, and 

 these would seem capable of greatly reducing the numbers of hoppers. A dead one^ 

 which saved me the necessity of making a dissection to get positive proof, showed in 

 the partly decomposed stomach the legs and other parts of grasshoppers, proving that, 

 as would be inferred from the presence of toads in the fields, their mission was to 

 feed upon the grasshoi)pers. 



The attacks of skunks upon grasshoppers, as stated by Mr. Longstreth, have already 

 been mentioned. 



As the tendency is for natural enemies to multiply with the increase of any species 

 of insect, we may look for increased assistance from this source by another year, and 

 in connection with the measures already urged, these ought by another year to keep 

 the insect entirely within the limits of destructiveness. 



THE CLOVEE-SEED CATERPILLAR. 



(Grapholitha inter stinctana, Clem.) 



BY II. OSBORN AND 11. A. GOSSARD, AMES, IOWA. 



On the evening of the 23rd of May many small dark brown moths were noticed 

 flying about a clover field upon the College Farm. They were resting upon the blos- 

 soms and among the leaves, and upon being disturbed would fly a few paces and then 

 settle again. These moths proved upon examination to be Grapholitha inter stinctana, 

 Clemens, the parent forms of the clover-seed caterpillar mentioned in the Entomolo- 

 gist's Report to the Commissioner of Agriculture in 1880. We had during the past 

 winter received specimens of clover-seed which we suspected of being damaged by this 

 pest, which has been reported as injurious in some of the states east of us in the last year 

 or two. The moths are also remembered as occurring at Ames in numbers some eight 

 or ten years ago. They were not, however, at that time connected with any damage 

 observed in clover fields. 



