40 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



The paris green is first mixed with water to form a paste and then 

 thoroughly stirred into the horse dung with the salt. The mixture 

 is then scattered in some sueh manner as is the poisoned bran. It 

 also has the advantage of being less of a menace to birds, practically 

 all of which are grasshopper destroyers. 



Protecting Orchard Trees. — The general practice has long been to 

 whitewash the trunks of trees to prevent the grasshoppers from crawling 

 up into them. If occasionally renewed the whitewash does great good 

 in this way and is worthy of recommendation. 



A broad tanglefoot band near the base of the tree trunks will catch 

 many of the grasshoppers, but if not applied very thickly, the larger 

 and stronger ones will pull out. 



Poison baits placed at the bases of the trees will keep most of the 

 insects from attempting to ascend to the foliage. 



Cultivation. — As previously stated, the grasshoppers lay their eggs in 

 the fall in small holes an inch or two deep in the soil. The eggs do not 

 hatch until spring. Late fall or winter plowing from four to six inches 

 deep destroys the eggs and is a very successful control measure. 



Some of the greatest menaces are the lands held for sale or from the 

 market by speculators, who are indifferent to the ravages of these pests. 

 Such localities afford excellent breeding places and in every community 

 where the grasshoppers are bad steps should be taken to see that such 

 places are plowed during the winter months. 



A thorough harrowing or disking after a rain does much good also. 



Burning. — Another means of reducing the pests is to burn the grass 

 or stubble of the breeding places or infested field when the grasshoppers 

 are most plentiful, or when the females are collecting on the breeding 

 grounds to begin egg-laying. The best time for firing is during the 

 night, when the insects are less active and are unable to escape the 



Fig. 35. — Hopper-dozer at work. (Photo by E. F. Siegfried. Original) 



approaching flames by flight. Of course, only waste stubble or pasture 

 lands can be so treated, but these are usually the favored breeding 

 places. Great care should always be exercised to see that sufficient help 

 is ready to keep such a fire under complete control. 



TToppcr-clozer. — The use of the hopper-dozer is an important factor 

 in the control of grasshoppers, especially in grain and hay fields, in 



