IN FLORIDA 45 
the palms, hence it would be better to use some colorless contact 
solution such as Pratt’s Scalecide and this will also destroy other 
kinds of scales on palms. 
Ants are often very troublesome, and they carry various kinds 
of scale and aphis which they establish on cultivated plants. O. 
and W. Thum’s Tree Tanglefoot applied to the trees or plants 
which they infest will prove an effective remedy. The lubber 
grasshopper (Dictyophorus reticulatus) is one of the regular fea- 
tures of Florida, and is sure to be found during the growing season 
wherever Crinums or Amaryllis are grown. They hatch out in 
early spring, the young being greenish black marked with yellow 
or red. Later in life they change color and sometimes reach a 
length of three inches; at this time they are gaudily painted with 
yellow, orange, black and rose or red. They are handsome at 
all times but are as evil as they are beautiful. I would not say 
that a full grown lubber will eat as much as a mule, but he will 
in a short time destroy nearly as much. Woe to any of the 
Amaryllis, Crinums or other succulent leaved plants that he 
visits, for his path is marked as if by fire and the sword. He 
cuts off at or near the ground the most vigorous leaves, apparently 
eating only at the point where he cuts. One lubber at a single 
visit will often cut off every leaf from a large Eucharis or Hip- 
- peastrum and then go on to the next and destroy it. 
I keep close watch in early spring, and whenever I find the 
newly hatched young I kill every one of them, which is usually 
not difficult to do, for they huddle close together on a plant stem 
and are not very active. It is well worth while to watch closely 
and when they are found make a most careful search in order 
that none may escape. I remember my poor slaughtered plants 
of the year before and take murderous revenge. And I find that 
by so doing there are few left to do damage later. Of course one 
must watch through the growing season, but nye they become 
scarce by August. 
They are especially bad about swamps and they no doubt 
migrate over the adjoining country. They seem to have no 
enemies and fowls will not touch them but a friend, Mr. William 
Matheson, believes that Guinea fowls will destroy them. 
Other grasshoppers do considerable damage though none are 
