BOMBAY LOCUST, 



219 



The damage is caused entirely by the winged locusts, first in the 

 ripening khai^f crops, later in the hilly districts during the winter 

 months. 



Fig. 258. 

 Bombay Locust, before the last moult. 



{Magnified tioice.) 



The methods in use against the North- West Locust are here 

 impossible owing to the different habits. The eggs are rarely found in 

 large numbers and are usually scattered over a large area. The young 

 are not found in swarms but scattered in grass-lands. The winged 

 insects fly in swarms for several months and Uve for eight months in all. 

 The measures actually adopted against this locust included the destruc- 

 tion of the hoppers by means of bags and cloths, the destruction of 

 swarms at night during the cold weather, the destruction of coupKng 

 locusts by hand and the collection of eggs, all under the inducement of 

 rewards paid for the amount collected. The Bombay Locust appears to 

 have emerged in immense swarms in 1883-84. and in 1903-04. A full 

 account of the latter outbreak has been pubUshed separately. 



Locusts in India, as elsewhere, are attacked by parasites and 

 enemies. The winged individuals are infested by the young of a large 

 red mite^ and are parasitised by at least one and possibly more species 

 of parasitic flies.'' The eggs are parasitised by an ichneumon and a 

 fly, are eaten by grubs and are infested with a peculiar worm. Crows 



* 17. Trombidimn grandissimum. 



» Miltogramma duodecim punctata. Big. (TacbiuidtE.) 



