— 79 — 



were less satisfactor}', however, than those with the native 

 species. In the breeding-cages, where all conditions were under 

 the control of the experimenter, the locusts exposed died. Out- 

 side no such favorable result followed its use. 



Just what this African fungus is, has not been determined. 

 It may be, and very likel}^ is, quite another thing from both 

 of the species referred to above. 



In the application of these fungus-diseases it must be remem- 

 bered that each fungus has its peculiar habits, and therefore 

 requires certain conditions for its growth. If a cow or ox be 

 attacked by a disease like " tristeza '' it does not necessarily 

 follow that a sheep will also be subject to the same disease, 

 though both are ruminants: just as like as not the South 

 African locust-fungus gave the excellent results on PacJiytyliis 

 migi'dtoriiis, the most com -non of the destructive locusts in 

 that region. To expect the fungus to take hold of and kill 

 ScJiistocevca pavanensis, which belongs to an entirely distinct 

 sub-family of locusts, is hardly scientific to say the least. That 

 such results might occur is possible but not probable. 



If any of these fungi are to be relied upon, why not the na- 

 tive species that is already aclimatized and was discovered as 

 an actual enemy of the very insect whose destruction is sought? 

 Besides, the various species of SporotricJiiim are recognized 

 by both botanists and entomologists as the easiest of insect-at- 

 tacking fungi to propagate and to preserve, besides being the 

 most deadly in their effects on the hosts which they attack. 



Experiments made during the past spring and early summer 

 tend to show the inefficacy of this mode of locust-fighting to 

 the exclusion of all others. Both at headquarters and at other 

 points in the Republic careful tests were made of the diffe- 

 rent fungi mentioned, and with practically the sr.me negative 

 results, save where climatic conditions happened to be favor- 

 able at the time. But by always keeping a good supply of 

 the fungus-killed locusts on hand and using them where the 

 opportunity occurs and the conditions are favorable much 

 good may and undoubtedly will result. 



