98 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



egg-masses of Acridiidae, which may thus be entirely 

 destroyed. In North America the so-called Locust Mite 

 proves a bitter enemy to the locust. In the mature form 

 it lives in the ground, feeding upon all sorts of soft 

 animal and decomposing vegetable matter. When the 

 grasshopper fills the holes with its eggs, the mites flourish 

 thereon, creeping into the holes and eating the contents 

 voraciously. A most common and widespread egg- 

 enemy is the Anthomyia egg-parasite. The Muscinse, 

 owing to the rapidity of their successive generations, 

 destroy large quantities of the eggs of the migratory 

 locust. The flies follow the locusts, and when they 

 settle to lay eggs, they also alight, ready to bore their 

 way to the eggs, with deadly results. It is said the 

 Dipterous genus Idia is incapable of boring into light and 

 sandy soils, and for this reason Acridium peregrinum 

 chooses them. Two-winged flies of the family Bomby- 

 liidae are also parasitic in these eggs. Ktinckel d'Her- 

 culais has studied the Bombylid larvse found in the ova 

 of the devastating locust Stauronotus maroccanus. The 

 larva issues from the egg in August, reaches the limit of 

 its growth in October, and passing the winter within the 

 egg-case, is hatched the following summer. 



To this work of egg-destruction by insect enemies and 

 parasites, must be added the good offices of various birds, 

 and of some mammals. Hogs are quite fond of locust 

 eggs, and soon learn to search them out. 



