— 17 — 



insect while molting hare been gradually giv^ing way to the 

 natural tints, and at this stage our new-Hedged locust presents 

 an aspect fresh and bright (Fig. ">, c). 



The molting, from the bursting- of the pupa skin to the full 

 ndjustment of the wings and straightening of the legs of the 

 perfect insect, occupies less than three-quarters of an hour, 

 and sometimes but half an hour. It takes place most frequently 

 during the \varmer part of the morning, and within an hour 

 after the wings are once in position the parts have become 

 sufficiently dr}^ and stilfened to enable the insect to move 

 about with ease ; and in another hour, wnth appetite sharpened 

 by long fast, it joins its voracious comrades and tries its new 

 jaws. The molting period, especiall}' the last, is a very critical 

 one, and during the helplessness that belongs to it the unfortu- 

 nate locust falls a prey to many enemies which otherwise 

 would not molest it, and not infrequently^ to the voracity of the 

 more active individuals of its o^vn species. ' 



Migrating. — The Argentine locust, like its near allies in 

 other portions of the world, is migratory in the true sense 

 of the word. Other insects, like certain butterñies, moths, 

 dragonilies, and winged ants, it is true, may and sometimes 

 do gather in immense numbers and pass over the surface of 

 the country to considerable distances. These nights, however- 

 are not made in accordance with some set law or for a definite 

 purpose in connection with the life-histories of the species 

 making them. Neither are such llights of any gr. at extent 

 when compared with the distances covered b3' moving swarms 

 of migratorv locusts. 



In writing on this topic, Professor C \'. Riley, who was the pre- 

 sident of the United States Entomological Commission, says:— '•• 

 "In the Old World the migratory locust is known to fiy for a 

 distance of four or five hundred miles into central Europe from 

 its permanent breeding-area in Asia. The flights taken b>' 

 locusts in North America may extend over a distance of 

 between one and two thousand miles, from their native 

 breeding-places in Montana, for example, to ivansas and Mis- 

 souri, and perhaps Texas." What has been recorded concerning 

 the distances traversed by locusts in their llights in the Old 



=i^ Kept. L". S. Em. Com., \'ol. I, p. 1 i;i (iSTt*;. 



