54 



than at French Grove, The corn field was examined for egos, but 

 none were found. On the upland meadow twenty-four c&9. masses 

 were taken during a search of about one hour, in which Mr. Sisson 

 kindly rendered efficient aid, twenty of which were parasitized and 

 completely destroyed. In the earth about the parasitized masses, 

 considerable numbers of dipterous pupae were found, probably from 

 the locust eggs. Some of these were put in a breeding cage and it 

 is hoped that the adult flies may be obtained the coming season. 

 A few dipterous larvse similar to those of Antliomyia were also taken, 

 and red mites were rather common. 



DESTROYING YOUNG GRASSHOPPERS. 



In the first report of the United States Entomological Commission, 

 a Commission appointed to investigate the life history and methods 

 of preventing the ravages of the Rocky Mountain locust. Dr. 

 Eiley, in considering the destruction of the young or unfledged 

 locusts, writes that experience has firmly established the fact "that 

 with proper means, efforts, and co-operation, the farmer in the more 

 settled portions of the country liable to their injury, may success- 

 fully cope with them; that, in short, he can protect his crops 

 against them with about as little labor and expense as he must 

 annually employ to protect most of these same crops from weeds." 

 As the life histories of the two species at present threatening to 

 become seriously destructive in certain portions of Illinois are not 

 essentially difi'erent from that of the one just mentioned, and as 

 they succumb to the same destructive agencies as have been suc- 

 cessfully employed with little expense in the West, it becomes the 

 duty of every farmer in the infested regions to watch closely such 

 situations on his farm as are likely to be stocked with locust eggs 

 for the hatching of the young, and to immediately apply such 

 remedial measures as seem best adapted to each case. Negligence 

 in this respect would be almost criminal, and hearty individual and 

 united efforts are earnestly advised. 



In the report above cited the methods of destroying young locusts 

 are classified thus: 1. Burning. 2. Crushing. 3. Trapping. 4. 

 Catching. 5. Use of destructive agents. By the first method old 

 hay or straw is scattered "over or around the field in heaps and 

 windrows, into which the locusts for some time after they hatch 

 may be driven and burned." When the weather is cold and damp 

 the locusts will seek the shelter of the hay or straw, and may 

 easily l)e burned before escaping. This method is well adapted to 

 upland pastures, where the eggs have been deposited in greatest 

 numbers. 



For the successful application of the second method mentioned 

 above, it is necessary that the surface of the fields on which it is 

 applied be smooth and hard. Here, again, the upland p:istures 

 present unusually favorable opportunities for successful work. Dr. 

 Fiiley states that ""Where the surface of the ground presents this char- 

 acter, heavy rolling can be successfully employed, especially in the 

 mornings and evenings of the first eight or ten days after the newly 

 hatched young have made their appearance, as they are generally 

 sluggish during these times and huddle together until after sunrise. 



