Blister-beetles Grasshoppers 



The Third Larval Stage 



In this stage (Fig. 13, Plate VII, Page 23) the larva is robust of body, 

 and while the mouth parts and legs are well developed, it does not appear 

 to feed. 



After burrowing about in the soil for a time the third larva changes 

 to the pupa. 



The Pupa 



The pupa is white at first, becoming darker as the time for the 

 emergence of the adult approaches. The legs, wings and antennae are 

 free, as in the pupa of the alkali-beetle. 



The pupal stage lasts from five to six days, when the adult beetle 

 appears. 



The Adult 



The adult blister-beetles are slender, rather soft bodied insects. In 

 fall they are common objects on the flower clusters of goldenrod and 

 other plants. 



The black blister-beetle (Fig. 8, Plate VII, Page 23) feeds upon 

 Russian thistle and goldenrod blossoms, as well as potatoes and other 

 crops. 



The ash-gray blister-beetle (Fig. 9, Plate VII, Page 23) is quite 

 common in alfalfa fields in Northern Colorado, where it feeds upon the 

 leaves of the alfalfa. 



3. GRASSHOPPERS 



During the early seventies the rich prairie soils of western Minnesota 

 attracted many homesteaders, so that by the summer of 1876 (which is 

 known as one of the worst grasshopper years in the history of American 

 agriculture), the vast expanse of these prairies was dotted with claim 

 shanties, tree claims and green fields. 



The first of June of this memorable summer all crops gave promise of 

 a bountiful harvest. Then vague rumors of great hordes of Rocky 

 Mountain locusts, which were destroying crops to the southwest, caused 

 much apprehension among the settlers, many of whom had spent their 

 last dollar in the planting of their crops, fully expecting the harvest to be 

 sufficient for their future needs. 



About June 20th great swarms of hoppers began flying over, coming 

 from the northwest and always traveling to the southeast. At times the 

 swarms were so large and the hoppers flew in such dense bodies that one 

 could look directly toward the sun without hurting the eyes. The light 

 was dimmed as though a thin cloud obscured the sun. 



The suspense of the homesteaders had almost reached the breaking 

 point when the wind changed and the long dreaded thing happened. 

 Suddenly, about ten o'clock in the forenoon of July 5th people were 

 startled by a loud, rushing sound like that of an approaching storm. 

 Upon going outside a sight long to be remembered met their eyes. 



From the sky, like huge snow flakes, millions of Rocky Mountain 

 locusts were dropping to earth. This living shower lasted for about 

 half an hour, when it ceased as suddenly as it began. 



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