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Lebedev (F. N.). OmeTij o 6opb6t ct> KoSbmHOii btj To5ojibCKOw 

 ry6epHiH BTj 1913 rOAY- [Report on the Campaign against 

 Grasshoppers in the Govt, of Tobolsk in 1913], Petrograd., 1915, 

 70 pp.. Supplements 84 pp., 3 figs., 11 maps. [Received 27th 

 December 1916.] 



In the introduction to this report the author points out that the 

 chemical method of controlling locusts is the most practical one and 

 at the same time the least expensive. The fact that it still meets with 

 opposition and is frequently reported not to have proved successful is 

 due to a variety of causes, such as the carrying out of the campaign too 

 late, after the pests have multiplied to an enormous degree and infested 

 large areas, the unsatisfactory character of the insecticide or sprayers 

 used and the technical execution of the campaign, of which the lines 

 have been more or less settled for Locusta migratoria, L., but which 

 cannot be carried out Avith the same success against other species, 

 particularly the smaller and more sluggish northern ones. To the 

 latter group belong the grasshoppers met mth by the author during his 

 supervision of the campaigns in Orenburg in 1901-1905 and in Tobolsk 

 in 1913 which are here dealt with. 



These grasshoppers, which include Arcypfera {StetJiophgma) flavicostcu 

 Fisch., Oedipoda coendescens, L., Podisma {Pezoiettix) pedestris, L., 

 Gomphocerufi sihiricus, L., and various species of Stenobothrus, inhabit 

 large areas of European and Asiatic Russia. They differ from the 

 other species in that they do not migrate over large distances or collect 

 into large swarms, while they oviposit anywhere, not necessarily in any 

 special kind of soil. The true locusts found in Russia are divided 

 into two groups: {!) L. migratoria and L. danica, which breed in the 

 flooded deltas of the Danube, Volga and other large rivers ; these 

 migrate for great distances and, having collected into enormous 

 swarms, oviposit among reeds, etc. (2) Dociostaurus {Siauronolus) 

 maroccanus and Calliptamus (Caloptenus) italicus, which occur in 

 Turkestan, Transcaucasia, and a large part of southern Russia ; they 

 migrate over smaller distances and oviposit only on hard virgin 

 soil, having collected into more or less large swarms. The method of 

 oviposition is of practical importance in deciding how to conduct 

 investigations as to the infestation of the soil with egg-clusters, on 

 which the preparations for a proposed campaign are based. 



In Tobolsk the prevailing species were GompJiocerus sihiricus and 

 Dociostaurus {Stauronotus) brevicoUis ; the next place being taken by 

 Arcyptera flavicosfa. A full account of the campaign is given, illus- 

 trated and supplemented by a number of figures, tables, maps and 

 diagrams. It was conducted entirely by means of the chemical 

 method and was confined to the protection of grain crops. The spray- 

 ing operations extended over an area of nearly 100,000 acres. A sum 

 of about £17,500 was assigned for this purpose, the insecticides used 

 being Paris green, of which 41b. per 2 "7 acres was used, and sodium 

 arsenate and arsenic, of which only 2| lb. were required, the last two 

 thus proving more economical. The use of sodium arsenate is specially 

 recommended ; the amount and composition of this insecticide required 

 per 2,700 acres being : — one ton of the arsenate, 1| tons of black 

 molasses, and ] | tons of lime ; the latter may be replaced by zinc 

 oxide. 



