360 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 3 



Doctor Marchal's last paper, but nothing comparable to his observa- 

 tions has been noticed as yet. We have, however, now four independ- 

 ent observations upon four different species of parasites and hosts, 

 and it seems more than probable, now that attention has been called 

 to this matter, that this interesting and apparently (to the species 

 concerned) important habit will be found to be quite widespread. 



I close this note with a transcription of Marchal's closing para- 

 graph in his last paper : 



"Ces exemples, que les observations ulterieures ne pourront man- 

 quer de multiplier, montrent que I'interet individuel pent se mani- 

 f ester assez frequemment par des habitudes normales dans I'accom- 

 plissement des actes qui accompagnent la ponte et qui ont pour but 

 d 'assurer la conservation de Tespece chez les Insectes. II y a la 

 un facteur jusqu'ici neglige et dont il convient de tenir compte dans 

 I'etude de revolution et de la specialisation souvent si etroite des 

 instincts lies a la reproduction qui s'observent chez les Insectes et, 

 en partieulier, chez les Hymenopteres. " 



LOCUST DESTRUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA 



By C. W. Howard, Chief of Entomological Section, Department of Agriculture, 



MogamMque 



Probably nowhere in the world have locusts been so destructive 

 and exercised such a baneful influence on agricultural pursuits as in 

 South Africa, and nowhere else has so unique a method for combating 

 them or so perfect an organization for local extermination been de- 

 veloped. Although reports of the work have been frequently noticed 

 in American Entomological publications, I know from personal cor- 

 respondence that very few of the American workers are thoroughly 

 familar with this South African work. For this reason a brief re- 

 sume may be of interest. It will deal mostly with conditions in the 

 Transvaal as it was in that Colony that the author had the privilege of 

 conducting two large locust campaigns. 



Locusts have been known in South Africa since the earliest records. 

 Immense swarms in the earliest days of settlement are said to have 

 swept down into Cape Colony from the North and North West, de- 

 stroying everything before them. 



I myself have seen swarms with a frontage of 15 or 20 miles and 

 at least 60 or 70 miles long, taking several days to pass a given point 

 and filling the air so thick that the glint of the sun on their wings 

 made one easily fancy he was in a snowstorm. Traveling through 

 such a swarm is not pleasant and many horses will not face it. ]\Iore- 



