REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 187 



I may find some yet, and if I do will forward them to you without delay. I am very 

 much afraid the province may have more hoppers next year than most people have any 

 idea of. I know that Mr. C. A. Young was trying to got information to send you, but 

 he has nothing definite, so has not written lately." — [John Scott.] 



Another outbreak of locusts occurred in the Nicola Valley in British Columbia. 

 This was brought to my notice by Mr. Hewitt Bostock, M.R, who also forwarded speci- 

 mens for examination. 



Reports were also received from Mr. Pooley and Mr. Sidney J. Solomon as follows : — 



" Nicola Lake, B.C., September 7. — Yours received re grasshoppers. I am 

 sending by this mail some grasshoppers and their eggs, which I hope will be of some 

 use to you in determining the species. The injury done by the hoppers was principally 

 to the ranges and bunch grass pasture fields : also considerable injury to the oats, by 

 their eating off the small stem which connects the grain with straw, and consequently 

 all the oats were lodged on the ground. Injury to wheat, not any ; peas, scarcely per- 

 ceptible. This is the second time the grasshoppers have appeared in our valley. The 

 first time (which was in 1890) they made complete havoc, and unless something happens 

 TO destroy the eggs before hatching, it will be very little use putting in a crop next 

 spring. The eggs are deposited on gravel and sandy hills (about an inch below the 

 surface). Some of the eggs seem to have become dried, but the majority are quite 

 fertile. Nearly all the grasshoppers have disappeared and a great many have died." — 

 [William Pooley.] 



" Nicola Lake, B.C., Dec. 3L — I could not grow enough feed fo keep any quantity 

 of hogs. The grasshoppers were very bad last summer and laid their eggs, so that we 

 are expecting our crops will be all eaten by them next year. I shall put in very little 

 wheat or oats, but principally peas and potatoes, as they do not bother these crops so 

 much." — [Sidney J, Solomon.] 



The early disappearance of the locusts mentioned by Mr. Pooley would indicate the 

 probable presence of parasitic insects or some fungous disease. As it was important to 

 know the exact identification of the species which were committing these depredations, 

 the specimens received were forwarded to Dr. Scudder, who reported : — 



" Cambridge, Mass., U.S., Dec. 2. — The mass of the material was a species of 

 Trimerotropis, probably cincta, Thom. Out of the balance, I made out Camnula peUucida, 

 Scudd., (many specimens), Circotettix verruculatus, Kirby, and Melanoplus atlanis, 

 Riley.»_[Dr. S. H. Scudder.] 



The most numerous species was Camnula pellucida, which is sometimes extremely 

 abundant and destructive in the West. This was the case between Kelowna and 

 Vernon, B.C., in 1895. 



In the case of this species, undoubtedly the use of hopper-dozers before the locusts 

 have developed their wings would be attended with good results, and if, as is frequently 

 the case with Camnula pellucida, the places chosen for egg laying are restricted areas," 

 these may be treated early in June with much less trouble than later. 



The poisoned bran remedy recommended for cutworms, page 190, has also been 

 found very effective againts locusts in California. 



When the eggs are found to be laid in cultivated ground, the ploughing of this in 

 fall or spring would destroy all the young locusts contained in these eggs, and, if cir- 

 cumstances would permit of it, it might be tried in the Nicola Valley, by placing several 

 small piles of the poisoned bran in the hatching grounds. This material seems to have 

 a wonderful attraction for the locusts. 



