138 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 14 



EXPERIMENTS WITH GRASSHOPPER BAITS^ 



By J. R. Parker and H. L. .Seamans, Bozeman, Mont. 



During the summer of 1919 preliminary experiments were conducted 

 for the purpose of improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of 

 the poison bran mash commonh' used for grasshoppers, special attention 

 being given to finding substitutes for the lemons and oranges generally 

 recommended to make the mash attractive. While the tests were not 

 extensive enough to warrant the drawing of any general conclusions, 

 certain materials appeared so promising that a report is given at this 

 time in the hope that other workers will try them out during the present 

 season.- 



Materials Tried as Substitutes fop Citrus Fruits 



The following materials were used in place of oranges or lemons in 

 the standard formula: amyl acetate, vanilla extract, lemon extract, 

 vinegar, watermelon, cantaloupe, banana, and ground apples. As 

 checks in all experiments, the poison bran mash was tried with salt and 

 molasses only, and with salt alone. Equivalents were used on the basis 

 of one lemon being equivalent to any one of the following amounts: 



1. 2 teaspoonsful of 4 per cent, lemon extract 



2. 2 teaspoonsful of vanilla extract 



3. 2 teaspoonsful of vinegar ■ 



4. 1 teaspoonful of amyl acetate , ■ 



5. 1 orange 



6. 1 apple 



7. 100 grams banana 



8. 100 grams cantaloupe 



9. 100 grams watermelon 



The various baits were prepared according to the following formula: 



Bran 25 lbs. 



Paris green 1 lb. 



Salt 1 lb. 



Molasses 2 qts 



Lemon or equivalents 12 units 



Water 10 quarts 



^Contributed from the Entomological Laboratories of the Montana State College. 



^Since this paper was submitted for publication in April, 1920, we have had an 

 excellent chance to try out amyl acetate on a large scale, 12,300 ounces having been 

 used during the summer of 1920 in a severe grasshopper outbreak. County Agents 

 and farmers having once tried the amyl acetate flavored poisoned bran mash would 

 use nothing else. It was very effective and the campaign was the most successful 

 we have ever conducted. The use of amyl acetate as a substitute for lemons in this 

 one campaign saved at least $2,000 in the cost of materials, reduced the labor neces- 

 sary in mixing the poisoned bran mash, and increased its effectiveness. 



