38 B. C. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



The use of this country as a cattle range has completely altered the 

 condition of the tableland, or upper range, where the cattle have been 

 allowed to graze vinchecked. The bunch-grass has gone, and the range 

 is bare and tmcovered by any high growing plants. Species such as 

 Metator pardalinus, Spharagemon aequale and Amphitomiis bicolor no 

 longer find the range to their liking and only a few of them can now be 

 found in some of the depressions where there is an unusual abundance 

 of grass. 



These species are now confined to the river valley slopes which 

 have been fenced as "winter ranges" and are not overgrazed b_v the 

 cattle. The overgrazing of the range, while it has caused the decrease 

 of some species, such as Metator, Spharagemon and Amphitomus, has 

 undoubtedly created ideal conditions for other species, probably hitherto 

 comparatively uncommon. Among these may be mentioned Melanoplus 

 infantilis, Camnula pellucida and Platybothrus brunneus. The last 

 species was extremely abundant, causing a serious outbreak over at 

 least 1,000 square miles in the Chilcotin district alone, and as specimens 

 were also secured from the Nicola Valley, it probably extended over 

 2,000 to 2,500 square miles of open cattle range in British Columbia. 

 This sudden outbreak, in large numbers, of a species never before 

 recorded from the Province, and rarely taken in Canada, is remarkable. 



The following species from the above list are believed to be new 

 records for the Province. 



Pardalophora tuberculata Beauv. 



Mecostethus gracilis Scudder. 



Platybothrus brunneus Thomas. 



Melanoplus fasciatus Walker. 



Melanoplus infantilis Scudder. 



Melanoplus borealis Fieber. 



Melanoplus minor Scudder. 



Melanoplus altitudinum Scudder. 



