

MOLE-CRICKET AND LOCUSTS. 371 



d. Protective Rules. 



i. Isolation of seed beds by trenches 25 to 30 cm. deep and 

 wide ; if flower-pots or vessels with smooth sides be placed 

 with their tops level with the bases of these traps, many 

 crickets will be caught and may be destroyed. 



ii. Protection of enemies. Mole, shrew-mice, crow, starling, 

 etc. The larvae of ground and rove-beetles also attack mole- 

 crickets. 



e. Remedial Measures. 



i. Destruction of nests in June and July. They may be 

 discovered from the circular orifice in the ground which leads 

 down to them, and by the wilting plants which may be near 

 them. They are dug out, and trampling, pouring hot water 

 over them, orexposure to the sun will kill the brood. 



ii. Destruction of the full-grown crickets in June. Great 

 caution must be exercised, as the creatures are very shy. 

 Just after dusk, the worker, who should be barefooted, ap- 

 proaches cautiously the places whence the chirping arises, and 

 exposes the concealed cricket by a stroke of the spade. When 

 seized the insect emits a thick black excrement. 



iii. Ordinary flower-pots, 2 yards apart, may be placed in 

 nursery-beds, so that the crickets may fall in during their 

 nocturnal rambles. This method is most effectual at pairing- 

 time. 



iv. Pour petrol, or tar and turpentine in equal parts, into 

 the holes, and then water till the holes are full, in order to 

 drive out the crickets. At Seligstadt, 100,000 crickets were 

 thus destroyed between June and August, 1897. 



FAMILY II. ACRIDIIDAE (Locusts). 

 Description of Family. 



Insects with vertical heads, the antennae shorter than the 

 body, with not more than 25 joints ; wings roof-shaped in 

 repose, the fore-wings narrow ; body laterally compressed ; 

 tarsi with 3 joints, usually with a lappet between the claws ; 

 abdomen with an auditory organ on each side of the first 

 segment, ovipositor short. 



BB 2 



