26 



Vayssffre (P.). Les Sauterelles dans le Sud-est de la France en 1918. - 



Ann. Service des lipiphv/irs, Pans, vi (19KS) 1919, pp. 2S9 298, 

 3 figs. [Received 12lli Nuvnnb.M 1920. J 



111 \ icw of Ihe serious losses from various Orthoptera in the south- 

 east of i'lance during 1918, a study lias Ijeen made of the conditions in 

 those regions and of metliods for comlxating the invasions in future 

 years. The principal species olistn'ved was nocios/aiirns {Stauronotits) 

 niaroccauiis, Thuiib., wliieh l)t'gan fo npjK'ai- from Isf to ISth May. 

 The crops that sntfenKl most wen- hic(M-ne and spring cereals (oats 

 .iiid barlev), of which more tlian ha,lf the cro]) w.is damaged. Callip- 

 /(iiiiits i/(ilicits, L., Ocdipoda coenilescens, ].., and 0. niiniala, Pall., 

 ajipcaiiHl in almost i^qual numlxM's wherever they were prevalent, 

 occiiiiiiii; from I Ik- iiid of Jmie or vm\\ July. V^egetable crops and 

 pastur.ige were both severt^ly a.(t.ick('d. Iip/iippi\c;ey provincialis, 

 Ycrs., and /■'. viliiini, Serv., are essenlially pests of xines and vegetable 

 crops, and reach tlieir maximum numbeis in July. Oviposition occurs 

 in loose soil in exposed ]:)laces. Hdrbi/is/es fisc/irn, ^'ers. [bcrengHieri, 

 May.) breeds in the forests of the Chaine des IVlaures, and becomes adult 

 in sunnncr. In certain years it is unusually abundant, and descends to 

 1 he lieKls, severely damaging tlu' crops, including vines, cvreals, fruit and 

 oriKuuental trees, as well as wlu-at. Declicus alhifyons, F., is chiefly 

 predaceous on other ()rthopt(-ra, vegetable food being a secondary 

 consideration. In oik' locality, however, it compk;tely devoured the 

 first crop of figs. 



In studying the methods of control of locusts it must be remembered 

 til, it IIk' xarious species have difftMcnt habits. It is useless at present 

 to iittt'inpl to protect the forest trees. While these Orthoptera bn^ed 

 in large masses, the Tettigoniids oviposit in isolated places, frequently 

 depositing a singl(> egg wherever suitable ground occurs. The Moroccan 

 locust alone lia.s Ikh-u successfulK' controlled by the use of tents, but 

 this method is imiiracti cable in the lorest regions in question. An 

 outstanding feature of the remetlial measures advocated in different 

 countries is the importance assigned to insecticide treatments, 

 m(>cJianical methods being a secondary consideration. It is not known 

 what value should be attached to the biological method of control by 

 Coccohcicillns acridioriiin, trilerelle, as it lias not been tried on the 

 nalive s])ecies, except })erliaps /). maroccaniis ; it would be interesting 

 to have further information on this jioint. 



Some succi'ss has bet'u obtained in the districts liable to invasion 

 by si)raying the young locusts with a mixture of \5 to 20 lb. tiude oil 

 of coal-tar, 1 gal. spirits of wine, 5 lb. soilium carbonate and sullicient 

 water to maki' 25 gals. .Arsenical salts and arsenious acid are recom- 

 mended as producing the best results, and it is considered unnecessary 

 to enter into a discussion of other well-known but less efficacious 

 treatments. 



In dealing with locusts, the breeding-places should be searched for at 

 the beginning of spring, and the young stages and the jilauts on which 

 they U'Vi\ should be s|>rayed with an arsenical solution. As sc>on as 

 the first hopptM"s ai)pea!' in the undi'rgrowth near plantations, poison- 

 bait should be spnatl around the cultixated areas, especially those 

 bordering on woods, and insecticides should be spra^^cd over the grasses 

 and bushes at the edge of the fields. The formulae for various pre- 

 parations of this nature are given I R.A.H., \. \\\ (->, etc.]. The poison- 

 baits can be used on any kind of plants oi" iiasture-land, and are 

 efl'icacious against all stages of locusts. 



