﻿146 SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



much inlluence on their flight; but the majority of the reports show 

 that, as is the nature of the insect in other States, it only flew in 

 dense swarms when the wind was from the northwest. 



4 — In most of the counties invaded, the locusts stayed till frost; 

 i. e., from their first appearance till frost, swarms came and left, so 

 that there were almost always some of them about. In some of the 

 last counties invaded, they were observed for only a few days, and in 

 all, their numbers diminished more and more through natural or un- 

 natural death, until Jack Frost vetoed the hopping and kicking of the 

 very last stragglers. 



5 — On account of the long continued drouth, and the ravages of 

 the Chinch Bug, but little green food was leftTor the locusts to de- 

 stroy. This, however, they took, showing no mercy. Corn was already 

 too hard in most of the invaded counties to be damaged; but they 

 stripped every green blade, and often the husks, when not already 

 killed by the Chich Bug. Fall wheat and rye were eaten as fast as 

 they came out of the ground, and the sowing of these grains was 

 delayed on that account. Oats were taken, but as a rule only after 

 wheat and rye. Clover and timothy shared the same fate, and, in fact 

 all the grasses suffered. Most garden vegetables were destroyed. The 

 tops of peanuts, buckwheat and beans were also to their taste, and 

 they were particularly partial to hemp. Apple, pear and peach 

 leaves were not amiss, and the green peaches were devoured, with the 

 exception of the stones which were left hanging to the trees. Green 

 apples were refused. Grapes were cut off" from the vines, but not 

 eaten. Tobacco was eaten in many instances, but they did not seem 

 to enjoy it, 



6 — It is well known that these omnivorous creatures will devour 

 almost anything when pushed from hunger; yet they have their likes 

 and dislikes, and their conduct in Missouri, so far as regards the latter, 

 as condensed from the reports, may be thus stated : Plants belong- 

 ing to the Nightshade Family {SolanacecB) generally escaped their 

 ravages ; the tops of potatoes and tomatoes were not eaten. Sweet 

 potatoes, parsnips, castor-beans, butter-beans, carrots, celery and the 

 tops of beets were not molested. They did no damage to broom-corn 

 or sorghum. Tobacco was in most cases not eaten, and if eaten, it is 

 reported as killing the locusts. Prairie grass, wild weeds and the 

 leaves of most forest trees were left uninjured. Plants growing in 

 wet places, or in the shade of trees, hills, etc., mostly escaped injury. 



7 — In most of the counties invaded, t^e insects are reported as 

 having laid eggs ; and in some localities the eggs were so numerous 



