August, '19] MORRILL: SWEETS IN POISONED BAITS 341 



cabbage, egg plants and beans. The species of cutworms under obser- 

 vation were Agostis ypsilon, Peridroma sauda, Noctua clandestina, 

 Feltia suhgothica and Laphygma frugiperda. 



Prof. G. A. Dean, of Kansas, reported that unsatisfactory results 

 believed to be due to the omission of molasses or syrup had been noted 

 particularly in work against the variegated cutworm (Peridroma 

 margaritosa) "at a time when so abundant as to take on the habits of 

 the army worm." He also reported having observed no difference in 

 results against grasshoppers with baits containing black strap molasses 

 as compared with other grades of molasses or syrups. Professor 

 Dean's results referred particularly to Melanoplus differentialis, M. 

 bivittatus and Peridroma margaritosa. 



Prof. M. H. Swenk, of Nebraska, reported the general impression 

 that baits without sweetening were not as effective against grasshop- 

 pers as baits including sweetening. Karo or glucose syrups were con- 

 sidered as not as efficient as sorghum or cattle molasses, the last being 

 preferred. This report from Nebraska referred to various species of 

 Melanoplus, particularly M. femur-ruhrum and M. atlantis. 



Prof. R. A. Cooley, of Montana, reported black strap molasses in his 

 experience as "much better than mild molasses or corn syrup." He 

 had not, however, tested poisoned baits for grasshoppers or cutworms 

 omitting sweetening agents of all kinds. His department recom- 

 mends the use of molasses in cutworm bait at the rate of 1 pint to 25 

 pounds of bran whereas the Kansas formula, requiring four times as 

 much molasses in proportion to the bran, is recommended against 

 grasshoppers. 



Prof. C. R. Jones, of Colorado, reported having used various grades 

 of syrups and molasses without having noted any difference in results. 



Observations in 1918 and 1919 



In 1918, in experiments conducted on a large scale by the writer or 

 under his direction in Arizona, six experiments gave results relating to 

 the use of molasses as grasshopper bait {M. differentialis) and one 

 relating to its use as a bait for cutworms {Feltia annexa). In four 

 experiments in which molasses was omitted in one or more tests the 

 results were as good as when molasses (black strap) was included. In 

 one experiment in which the molasses was increased two-thirds over 

 the usuall}'- recommended amount no effect could be detected. In one 

 series in which a medium light grade of cooking molasses was used 

 instead of the usually recommended darker grade, the results were 

 almost perfect, tending to shoAv independent of all other experiments, 

 that a darker grade, particularly "black strap" is not necessary. 



In the fall of 1918 a bait consisting of bran, Paris green and water 



