US DEPARTMENT oP: ets Sie 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief, 
January 25, 1915. 
THE GRASSHOPPER PROBLEM AND ALFALFA CULTURE. 
By F. M. WessTErR, 
In Charge of Cereal end Forage Insect Investigations. 
SPECIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPREDATIONS. 
While specimens of the species of grasshoppers actually engaged in 
devastating alfalfa fields have not always accompanied complaints 
of their ravages, it is nevertheless possible, taking the data secured 
by Government and State officials in connection with information 
from correspondents, accompanied by specimens of the insects actually 
committing these depredations, to fix the responsibility—largely at 
least—upon three species. One of these is known as the differential 
grasshopper (Méelanoplus differentialis Thos., fig. 1), another as the 
two-striped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivitiatus Say., fig. 2), and the 
third, Melanoplus atlanis Riley; the last being more or less migratory. 
Other species of grasshoppers have probably at times been more or 
less involved, as it is rarely that material submitted with a complaint 
of damages does not include more than one species; on the other 
hand, species ravaging other crops‘on the same farm or ranch are 
often submitted under the supposition that they are like those seen 
at work in alfalfa. A’ notable case in point is that _of the yellow- 
winged or pellueid g grasshopper (Camnula pellucida Seudd.), which, 
while very ee to grain and grass crops, is said to work but 
little injury to alfalfa. However, as all grasshoppers likely to be- 
come involved in this or similar depredations have much the same 
habits and all are probably susceptible to the same treatment, the 
question of species is not one to interest the farmer particularly, be- 
yond the matter of his ability to determine for himself which one is 
the worst pest and to apply his measures of suppression more espe- 
cially with reference thereto. 
APPLICABILITY OF MEASURES HEREIN DESCRIBED TO CLOVER CROPS. 
While this bulletin is primarily for the benefit of the alfalfa grower, 
the measures of suppression recommended may be applied in the 
Notre.—This bulletin describes the species of grasshoppers that work special injury to the alfalfa fields 
and suggests metheds for their destruction. It will be of interest wherever alfalfa is threatened by an attack 
from these insects. 
68212°— Bull. 637—15-—_1 
