GRASSHOPPER OUTBREAK *N NEW MEXICO. 5 



Though the major portion of the egg pods were deposited in the 

 sandhills during the fall of 1912, the writer was informed by several 

 parties that some of the eggs, at least, were deposited in hard land. 

 This is very probably true, but at best they constituted a very small 

 percentage. 



METHODS OF TRAVEL. 



Grasshoppers of this species appear to have a decided preference 

 for massing together and traveling over barren areas, such as road- 

 ways, footpaths, and along railroad, tracks and right of ways. 

 Over such areas, under favorable weather conditions, immense 

 droves 1 or 2 miles in length, massed closely together, travel along 

 at a rapid gait, all generally traveling in the same direction. 

 Though large droves mass and travel over the prairie proper, the 

 rate of travel is somewhat less than that of the droves passing over 

 barren areas. 



Grasshoppers in the third nymphal stage travel at the rate of 

 from 8 to 12 feet per minute ; those in the fourth instar from 15 to 

 20 feet per minute. The rate of travel of nymphs in the first two 

 instars is proportionally less. Nymphal droves of these grasshop- 

 pers, under proper weather conditions, travel from 1 to 2 miles a 

 day. 



Adults taking flight during a heavy wind fly with the wind, 

 though generally facing it during the rise from the ground to the 

 desired altitude, which usually is from 30 to 40 feet. Adults have 

 been noted to alight on the surface of water and then easily take 

 wing therefrom. 



WEATHER CONDITIONS. 



Weather conditions are a very important factor in the dispersion 

 of the grasshoppers, at least during that period when the majority 

 are in the nymphal stages. 



Throughout the month of June, 1913, the amount of precipitation 

 in New Mexico was greatly in excess of normal. 



On dark, cloudy days or during rainy weather the grasshoppers 

 travel very little. Under such conditions they generally collect be- 

 neath available shelter, or mass upon the prairie to feed, or slowly 

 wander around with no apparent object in view. If, however, during 

 one of these periods the sun breaks through the clouds to shine bril- 

 liantly for a few moments, every individual becomes active and almost 

 immediately the entire drove is rapidly moving along its usual course 

 of travel. The moment the sun disappears travel ceases as promptly 

 as it began, and the former state of inactivity is soon restored. 



During fair, bright sunny weather travel usually commences early 

 in the forenoon and continues until the latter part of the afternoon. 



