﻿OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 



served feeding on the locusts by Mr. H. S. King in Texas and by Mr. 

 Brous in Kansas. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH THE EGGS, AND CONCLUSIONS DRAWN THEREFROM. 



There are many questions respecting the manner in which the 

 eggs of this locust are affected under different conditions, which are 

 of intense practical interest, and which are frequently discussed with 

 no definite result being arrived at, or no positive conclusion drawn. 

 Such are, for instance, the influence of temperature, moisture and 

 dryness upon them; the effects of exposing them to the air, of break- 

 ing open the pods, of harrowing or plowing them under at difierent 

 depths, of tramping upon them. Everything, in short, that may tend 

 to destroy them or prevent the young locusts hatching, is of vital im- 

 portance. With a view of settling some of these questions, and in the 

 hope of reaching conclusions that might prove valuable, I have 

 carried on, during the past Winter, a series of experiments, some of 

 which are herewith summed up. By reference to the meteorological 

 table given further on, in considering the " Condition of the Eggs," 

 the exact temperature at any of the dates mentioned can be ascer- 

 tained. 



Experiments to test the Effects of alternately Freezing and Thawing. 



The eggs in the following series of experiments were obtained 

 early in November, at Manhattan, Kans., under similar conditions. 

 They were mostly in a fluid state at the time, and none but good and 

 perfect masses were used. They were all carefully placed in the nor- 

 mal position at the surface of the ground, in boxes that could be 

 easily removed from place to place. The experiments commenced 

 November 10th, 1876, and ended March 10th, 1877. During November 

 and December the weather was severe, while during January and 

 February it was largely mild and genial for the season. In March 

 again there was much frost. 



The temperature in my office, into which all the eggs when not 

 exposed were brought, ranged during the day from 65° to 70° F., rarely 

 reaching to 75°. During the night it never dropped below 40°, and 

 averaged about 55°. 



Experiment 1. — Fifty eg£[-masses were exposed to frost from November 10th to 

 January 10th, and then taken in-doors. lu 20 days they commenced hatching, and 

 continued to do so for 38 days thereafter. 



Experiment 2. — Fifty eofg-masses exposed at the same time to frost. Brought in- 

 doors on December 10th. On December olst they commenced hatching numerously 



