194 



INSECTS AFFECTING FIELD CROPS 



OJT, 



FIG. 213. Details of con- 

 struction of hopperdozer. The 

 back and sides are canvas. 

 (Original.) 



These insects are essentially single- 

 brooded. Figure 212 illustrates a female, 

 with badly frayed wings, egg-laying. 



Natural Enemies. They are at all 

 times subject to the attacks of birds, 

 skunks and many other animals, and the 

 eggs are eaten by two or more species of 

 blister beetles, as well as ground beetles, 

 harvest mites, etc. Fungous and bacterial 

 diseases also play a large part in reducing 

 their numbers. 



Control Measures. Deep plowing in 

 the late fall or early spring helps to break 

 up the egg masses. Alfalfa land should be 

 thoroughly disked. When the young 

 appear in the spring) it is sometimes 

 possible to burn the stubble. Bunches of 

 straw may be scattered about on cold 

 days and the grasshoppers gathering 

 thereon may be burned. Farmers some- 

 times destroy the newly hatched "hop- 

 pers" when occurring in grass land or a 

 field in any crop by plowing, beginning 

 at the outside and working into the center 

 of the field. Many are buried hi the 

 furrows. Ditches two feet wide and two 

 feet deep may form impassable barriers in 

 the line of their march. If there is water in 

 the ditches, the surface should be oiled. 

 Before grasshoppers become winged, hop- 

 perdozers are used effectively. Figure 213 

 illustrates details of structure of a hop- 

 perdozer. See also figures 70 and 71. 

 Flocks of turkeys in the field do much to 

 reduce the numbers of this pest. Coopera- 

 tion among farmers when the grasshoppers 

 first appear is not only desirable but very 

 necessary. 



A poison spray, quite successfully used, 

 is made as follows: Arsenite of soda, 3 

 pounds; molasses, 1J/2 gallons; water, 180 



