12 GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 



Quoting from Mr. Somes' report for 1911 : 



"While the Rocky Mountain Locust has been vei-y commonly mentioned in 

 the newspapers this summer, as usual it is merely a case of mistaken identity. 



One of the most abundant of the species found, however, is Melaii- 



oplus atlavis, a species based on such slig'ht difference of structure that none 

 but a specialist could positively separate the two. Indeed, from the study of a 

 very large series of this species taken this summer in widely separated local- 

 ities, it appears that with the wide range or variation found in both there 

 must be doubt as to the validity of specific separation. Thus the public may 

 well be excused for mistaking two species which are in such close relationship 

 as to render them a puzzle to the student of this group 



Regarding the seven species listed above we may say that while ordinarily 

 the Tryxalinje are of little importance, yet we found Steiiobothrus cio-ti- 

 peniiis a very serious pest being very numerous and also extremely wide- 

 spread, occurring at every point where we made collections. 



Cavinula pelhicida was found locally plenty in several places but is not 

 apparently very generally distributed. It is, however, a species which may 

 at times become a very serious pest. 



Dissostcira Carolina, the familiar Cai'olina locust, is widely distributed 

 but seldom to be considered actually a pest, being for the most part an insect 

 of roadsides. Late in the season it has been found abundant, however, in 

 cornfields and other dry places and did considerable actual damage. 



Melaiwplns bivittatHs, here including also M. ffi)toratn.s, which we can 

 but consider as a form of this, has been the most seriously injured of the 

 species, from point of numbers and from distribution. It has been the domi- 

 nant species in most localities where we studied the conditions. 



Melaiiophts atlauifi, "The Lesser Migratory Locust," has been a close sec- 

 ond to the preceding species in importance, being nearly as numerous and but 

 the two preceding. 



Melanoplus feninr-rnhruni, the common or "Red-legged Locust," has been 

 found at every point where collections were made but in lesser numbers than 

 the two preceeding. 



Melanoplus differentialis, commonly called "The Big Yellow Locust" by 

 the farmers, has been very abundant and very harmful but within a limited 

 area. In general its distribution has been limited on the north by the Minne- 

 sota River. 



Certain of the Locusfidae notably Orcheli»uiiii glaberrimajn and O. agile 

 may be harmful at times especially in lowlands, while among the Gryllidae, 

 the common Cricket, GnjlUiH peinisylvauicns and Gi-yllns abbreviatus are us- 

 ually present in large nvimbers, more especially the present year, possibly 

 from the same cause as the Blister beetles, i. e., abundant food in the numer- 

 ous grasshopper eggs last year. For the same reason Ncmobins also is abnor- 

 mally abundant." 



In 1912 the Clear-winged Locust was found extremely abundant 

 in portions of Polk and Norman counties, exhibiting a marked 

 increase over conditions in 1911, In early August it was reported 

 as being abundant in the northern part of the state from Dakota to 

 Lake Superior. In the Iron Range it has become perhaps the pre- 

 dominant species, conditions there being especially favorable for its 

 increase. Alfalfa was in many places attacked and ruined by this 

 species. 



