— 46 - 



locust's eggs in this and not in other couiUries is more or less 

 a myster}'. Still, by a little supposition, it might he imagined 

 that the steps from a carrion-feeding habit could develop that 

 which the insects now possess. In a country where, in former 

 days, and even now, hundreds and thousands of dead animals 

 were and are left lying scattered over the pampa to decay 

 and dry up, these insects have become exceedingly plentiful. 

 Locusts visit the region and deposit their eggs whicli are 

 covered with a frothy exudation that soon becomes strong 

 smelling and attracts the " bichos " as they go ilying about the 

 country in search of food. They alight and begin devouring this 

 ''plugging" material and soon reach the eggs beneath, fheir 

 own eggs have also been laid and the young grubs alread\' 

 hatched, since carrion-feeding animals must necessarily develop 

 rapidly. They cannot leave, hence the eggs of the locust are 

 attacked and eaten. 



Here at Carcaraiia immediately after the locusts had begun 

 to gather in certain localities for egg-laying these cliaiupi:^ 

 could also be seen in large numbers at the same places. After 

 the locusts had laid and departed, thousands of the beetles were 

 to be seen creeping about over the surface of the ground, 

 while others had already burrowed into the earth and were 

 engaged in feeding upon the locust-eggs and the surrounding- 

 spongy material. In about three or four weeks later hundreds 

 of their larv;e or grubs could also be found by digging in the 

 ground among the locusts' eggs. In some places nearly all, 

 while in others, a large percentage of the eggs were destroyed 

 by these beetles and their larviv. 



Not only did the champi destroy large quantities of locust 

 eggs here in the province of Santa-Fé, but according to both 

 private and press-reports it was equally abundant throughout 

 the country, where it did good work. Reports of this kind came 

 from the provinces of Córdoba, Mendoza, San Luis, iiuenos 

 Aires and Pampa Central. 



So long then as this country remains as at present a stock- 

 producing one. and the carcasses of dead animals are permitted 

 to remain upon the surface unburied, this insect can be count- 

 ed upon as a locust eneni}'. That is, provided the locust is 

 permitted to continue to come and go nearly unmolested by 

 man. This habit in the champi instead of dying out will become 

 stronger and more confirmed year after year. 



