1920 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 51 



the Griddle mixture. Another point in favor of the former was the difficulty in 

 securing horse droppings in sufficient quantity. However, there were some farmers 

 jn nearly every district who spoke very highly of the droppings and used nothing 

 else. Two instances came to my notice where the farmers had used manure 

 spreaders and while this might seem a rather extravagant method of spreading 

 poison, we must take into consideration the cheapness of the material which would 

 permit a far greater quantity to be used in comparison with Kansas bait, at the 

 same cost. The results of this method were, at least, all that could be desired 

 and probably exceeded any other. 



Later in the season a large type of hopper catcher was used, this being an 

 improved model of the old hopper-dozer. It was sixteen feet long and some three 

 feet in height, made, apart from the frame, with galvanized iron. With this 

 implement, drUwn by two horses, some farmers claimed to have caught as many 

 as fourteen bushels of locusts in one day. Certainly some excellent work was done 

 with them while the enthusiasm lasted, but in spite of the apparent success I am 

 of the opinion that the machines are a poor substitute for poison baits. 



There is one feature in the present locust outbreak that makes it different 

 from any other we have experienced in western Canada and that is the fact that 

 we have had to deal with an entirely different kind of locust. Our previous know- 

 ledge referred entirely to the genus Melmioplus and chiefly to the Migratory and 

 Lesser Migratory species, whereas the present insects involved are largely the 

 Pellucid locust. It was, perhaps fortunate that we visited the infested districts 

 before giving advice and more so that we were able to distinguish the species 

 involved, because the habits of the two genera are different in many re5pGcts. For 

 instance the species of Melanoplu^ we have been dealing with, oviposit in and 

 around small openings amid sparse vegetation, or more frequently ftill, in the 

 stubble fields. Camnula, on the other hand, avoids such places anri instead, selects 

 the roadsides and sodded areas, depositing its eggs in the clumps of grass. It thus 

 happened that instead of swarming of the stubble fields, as might have been 

 expected before knowing the species, the insects came from the roadsides. This 

 was how conditions were in most districts, but in a few Melanoplus predominated, 

 while in others, all kinds were found together. 



It is an interesting sight to see the small hoppers all moving in one direction, 

 as if all were induced by a similar impulse. These movements may be towards 

 the sun or away from it, with or against the wind so that it is difficult to arrive 

 at a reason for the uniformity of movement. One thing is certain : hav'ncj once 

 located a field they seldom abandon it while food remains available. Moving 

 inward they first steadily work their way towards the centre of the field while the 

 rear guard clean up what is left, or that which re-sprouts. Lar<re masses of these 

 lioppers may also be seen in the morning while the dew is still on the herbage, 

 sunning themselves before partaking of the morning meal. It is then that they 

 sometimes gather along roadsides so thickly that the road looks black with them; 

 on other occasions they have been known to collect on the railway irons in such 

 numbers as to actually stop the trains. The greatest sight of all, bowever, is to see 

 a migration after the insects have attained the winged stage. At such times they 

 move in regular swarms and drift along with the wind like a thick snow storm. 

 Such a swarm may last for hours or but a few minutes. All depends upon the 

 weather, when the sun comes out bright and hot the insects are on the wing in 

 a moment, should a cloud obscure that orb's surface, the locusts as quickly drop 

 to earth again. The flights, too, seem to be infectious because no sooner do the 



