Februarj', '14] HUNTER: KANSAS GRASSHOPPER CONTROL 77 



The poisoned hoppers do not seem to take enough poison to affect 

 the cannibahstic brethren who are wont to devour their poisoned kind. 



Actual counts showed that after the bran mash once became dry 

 it lost its attractiveness and thereby its effectiveness. This is another 

 reason advanced for early morning application. 



Since under ordinary weather conditions the bran dries out in about 

 tAvo hours, distributing the mash in little balls or piles was tried. It 

 was found, however, upon experiment, that the sowing of the bran 

 mash broadcast was more effective for the following reasons : 



a. It eliminates all danger of poisoning fowls or stock. 



h. Covers more than twice as much area and thereby reaches more 

 hoppers. 



c. After the outer surface of the bran-mash ball has once become dry 

 it is not eaten even though the inside may still be moist. 



d. With the same amount several applications may be made at 

 intervals of two to four days thereby reaching more hoppers. 



Observation counts showed that 40 to 60 per cent of the grasshoppers 

 were killed with one application of the poison. A second application 

 destroyed from 70 to 80 per cent of the grasshoppers. 



Investigations in comparison with checked fields after the 2oth 

 of September showed that there were less than half as many living 

 hoppers on the field where poison had been scattered than on checked 

 fields where no poison had been apphed. 



Sarcophagid parasites were unusually active throughout the region. 



The locust fungus was unusually active in four counties in the early 

 spring but with the dry weather it practically disappeared. All 

 attempts at artificial distribution were without avail. 



It would seem almost impracticable to distribute poison in a green 

 alfalfa field Avhere there is abundance of feed for the hoppers and yet, 

 from figures based on actual counts, about two hundred and forty 

 thousand grasshoppers were killed per acre with one application right 

 in the midst of a large green alfalfa field. Poison for this experiment 

 was scattered broadcast through the field, using four to five pounds to 

 the acre at an actual cost of not over twelve cents per acre. 



A more effective means, however, is the mowing of the field, leaving 

 strips of standing alfalfa four to six feet wide and about seventy- 

 five yards apart. The grasshoppers soon collect in these strips and 

 are thus readily poisoned with small amounts of the bran mash or easily 

 caught with the hopperdozer. 



By the use of these means one of the largest alfalfa growers in the 

 southwest was able to harvest three crops of alfalfa before the first 

 of August where in a check field nearby only one crop was harvested 

 in the same time and that the first crop. 



