REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 1/6 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



These were the Lesser Migratory Locust (Melanoplus atlanis, Eiley), Packard's 

 Locust (M. Pachardii, Scudd.), the Two-lined Locust (M. hivittatus. Say), and the 

 Eoclcy Mountain Locust (M. spretus, Uhler). 



There is no doubt that the cause of the decrease in locusts was largely due to the 

 co-operative work of farmers with Paris green, added to the increase of two species of 

 Blister beetles, Epicauta sericans, Lee, and Epicauta pennsylvanica, DeG. This year 

 the first of these insects were seen on June 1, and by the 4th of that month they had 

 become abundant. E. sericans occurred on the dry prairies and pennsylvanica in some- 

 what damper spots, wherever the Wild Pea (Laihyrus venosus, Muhl.) is plentiful. E. 

 pennsylvanica did considerable damage to potatoes and broad beans, but E. sericans 

 is in no way injurious; it is, on the contrary, beneficial, as it seems to confine itself 

 almost entirely to lamb's-quarters, though I have seen them, actually eating wheat when 

 other food was not to be found. The native food plant appears to be the Crocus 

 Anemone, Anemone NuUalliana, Gr., which I have often seen them eating. These 

 beetles had all disappeared by August 28. That these two species of insects will bo 

 the cause of a still greater decrease of locusts next season is, I think, little to be 

 doubted; for, although there are still numerous fertile eggs in some places, and not- 

 withstanding that many locusts remained alive late into the season and there were an 

 enormous number of eggs deposited, still, from observations I have made, I find that 

 at least two-thirds of the eggs have been destroyed by Blister beetles. Of 141 poda 

 examined, the eggs of 97 were destroyed. Of other locust parasites, there was an in- 

 crease of tachina flies, and the Locust Mite seems to be rather more plentiful than 

 usual. Another friend was Franklin's Gull, Larus FranTclinii. During the migratory 

 season, between July 26 and 31, thousands of these birds were to be seen flying up and 

 down the fields, particularly on the summer-fallows, busily engaged in picking up lo- 

 custs. Unfortunately, they were too late to prevent many of the females from laying 

 eggs, although, ~of course, they did an immense amount of good. 



Some damage was caused from locusts eating binder twine; very few had blue- 

 stoned the twine, and we have now been able to demonstrate without a doubt that some 

 brands of binder twine are much more subject to attack than others. Wliether it is 

 that certain brands are made of different material or that they are looser than others, 

 I cannot say; but the twine which was most attacked is very loosely twisted. 



With regard to what you have called the Griddle Mixture, numerous tests were 

 made with Paris green during the season to ascertain as accurately as possible the 

 strength required to kill locusts, and it was found that one pound of Paris green could 

 be mixed with five patent pails of. horse droppings with absolute success. Weaker 

 mixtures were not quite so successful. In the past, I believe, a large amount of Paris 

 green, as well as labour, has been wasted through putting out the mixture in cold or 

 wet weather, whereas I find that practically no feeding takes place in the spring with 

 a temperature below 50°P. It is on the hottest days that locusts eat most, and con- 

 sequently are most easily poisoned. In the early stages locusts much prefer the mix- 

 ture moist, and I have found that spreading a little every other day, in the morning, 

 gives mtich better results than scattering a lot at a time, and less frequently. Another 

 advantage of spreading lightly is that the danger of cattle eating it is greatly lessened, 

 whereas when put in lumps the danger is claimed to be considerable. 



I regret to say that some cases of cattle poisoning were brought to my notice 

 during the season. Though in every case the loss was the result of either ignorance 

 or gross carelessness, in some cases, through spreading the mixture in too large himi)s, 

 or even putting it in pasture fields, or through leaving the barrel or whatever it was 

 mixed in, where cattle could get at it. As I have said more than once, if tlic mixture 

 is only scattered properly, there will be practically no danger. A good preventive mea- 

 sure is to keep cattle well salted. As Mr. McKellar remarked, ' RoTrT^ farmers are ever- 

 generous with salting their grasshopers, but neglect their cattle. This is a fact. 



Locust fungus. — I am sorry to say that the tubes of the fungous locust disease left 

 in my care, proved a complete failure. One failed to show any sigTis of growth, but 



