IN FLORIDA 45 



the palms, hence it would be better to use some colorless contact 

 solution such as Pratt's Scalecide and this will also destroy other 

 kinds of scales on palms. 



Ants are often very troublesome, and they carry various kinds 

 of scale and aphis which they establish on cultivated plants. O. 

 and W. Thum's Tree Tanglefoot applied to the trees or plants 

 which they infest will prove an effective remedy. The lubber 

 grasshopper (Dictyophorus reticulatus) is one of the regular fea- 

 tures of Florida, and is sure to be found during the growing season 

 wherever Crinums or Amaryllis are grown. They hatch out in 

 early spring, the young being greenish black marked with yellow 

 or red. Later in life they change color and sometimes reach a 

 length of three inches ; at this time they are gaudily painted with 

 yellow, orange, black and rose or red. They are handsome at 

 all times but are as evil as they are beautiful. I would not say 

 that a full grown lubber will eat as much as a mule, but he will 

 in a short time destroy nearly as much. Woe to any of the 

 Amaryllis, Crinums or other succulent leaved plants that he 

 visits, for his path is marked as if by fire and the sword. He 

 cuts off at or near the ground the most vigorous leaves, apparently 

 eating only at the point where he cuts. One lubber at a single 

 visit will often cut off every leaf from a large Eucharis or Hip- 

 peastrum and then go on to the next and destroy it. 



I keep close watch in early spring, and whenever I find the 

 newly hatched young I kill every one of them, which is usually 

 not difficult to do, for they huddle close together on a plant stem 

 and are not very active. It is well worth while to watch closely 

 and when they are found make a most careful search in order 

 that none may escape. I remember my poor slaughtered plants 

 of the year before and take murderous revenge. And I find that 

 by so doing there are few left to do damage later. Of course one 

 must watch through the growing season, but here they become 

 scarce by August. 



They are especially bad about swamps and they no doubt 

 migrate over the adjoining country. They seem to have no 

 enemies and fowls will not touch them but a friend, Mr. William 

 Matheson, believes that Guinea fowls will destroy them. 



Other grasshoppers do considerable damage though none are 



