44 



INJURIOUS INSECTS OF KANSAS. 



Riley. (Bulletin 25, 1891, Division of Entomology, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture.) 



The means to be employed (for the destruction of locusts) fall very 

 naturally into five divisions: (1) Encouragement of natural agencies; 

 (2) destruction of the eggs; (3) destruction of the young or unfledged 

 insects; (4) destruction of the mature or winged insects; (5) prevent- 

 ive measures. 



1. Under this head may come protection of the locust-eating 

 birds, or, at least, non-destruction of them. Prairie chickens and 

 quails do much good because of their grasshoper-eating habits. 



Fig. 22. Two striped Locust. ( See page 42. ) 



There are many parasites of grasshoppers, but their control is out- 

 side of our hands. Certain minute mites and certain flies do 

 most valiant work in the warfare against the locusts. A parasitic 

 fungus growing in and on the bodies of the locusts sometimes de- 

 stroys many. 



2. Destruction of the eggs by harrowing or plowing, or tramp- 

 ing, or collecting, or flooding (in irrigated districts), in the fall is an 

 effective measure. The ovipositing regions can be discovered by 

 noting the dead bodies of locusts on the ground in autumn, or by 

 turning over the ground here and there and exposing the eggs. 

 The eggs of the Rocky Mountain Locust " are laid in bare, sandy 

 places, especially on high, dry ground, which is tolerably compact 



