28 THE RICE GRASSHOPPER 



The other parasite is an internal one, one of the so-called 

 hairworms found, now and then, as a umch-coiled whitish 

 thread-like body, especially in the thoracic cavity of 

 infested hoppers. This was identified as probably a 

 species of Gorditis. Somewhat related species have been 

 recorded by Riley as attacking the Rocky Mountain 

 Locust. 



Birds, which are by some considered as of great ser- 

 vice in keeping insect pests in check, seem to be of 

 comparativel.y slight importance in connection with the 

 present form. According to the raiyats' report, during a 

 part of September, 1910, a flock of birds destroyed con- 

 siderable numbers of grasshoppers, but this could not be 

 verified nor could the species concerned be ascertained. 

 The common Myna (AcridotJtere.s fi-isfis) was observed 

 during the bagging operations on the bunds, but was not 

 seen to feed on the grasshoppers. Unfortunately, speci- 

 mens could not be obtained at the time, so an examina- 

 tion of the stomach could not be made. 



The above discussion is clearly by no means complete. 

 It seems very probable that a number of enemies of the Rice 

 Grasshopper have not yet been observed. Still it seems 

 clear that it is quite useless to expect much assistance 

 from the enemies of this pest, whether insect, reptile or 

 bird, wherever the attack is in any way severe. 



THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE UPON THE GRASSHOPPERS. 



Whether the exposure of eggs, on the one hand, to 

 drought and sun or, on the other hand, to excessive mois- 

 ture has any detrimental effect upon them or not, seems 

 to depend largely upon whether the egg-masses have been 

 broken up or have been preserved intact. Eggs removed 

 from the egg-mass and exposed to light and air collapse 

 very soon, especially if such exposure takes place during the 

 dry weather. On the other hand, intact egg-masses may 

 be exposed for Uionths throughout the whole dry weather, 

 apparently without in any way injuring their powers of 

 hatching. Thus, egg-masses removed from the soil in the 

 month of December were kept exposed to the air until the 

 following June when they were buried in soil again. 



