1921 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 23 



the near future, we must not forget the present. We have almost surely to face a 

 continuation of the pest next spring and it behooves us to he prepared for the 

 worst, even though we may expect relief in the course of a year or so. 



THE INFLUENCE OF LOCUSTS ON THE RANGES OF BRITISH 



COLUMBIA. 



E. R. Buckell, 

 Assistant Entomologist, Province of British Columbia. 



During the past few years there have been a number of reports of locust 

 injury in British Columbia. The most important outbreaks have been in the 

 range areas throughout the Dry Belt of the Province from the United States 

 Boundary to the Chilcotin district as far north as Latitude 52. 



As the damage done by locusts has been in some cases of considerable 

 importance, and in view of the fact that the Provincial Government has been 

 asked, by settlers, for aid in controlling the locusts which have been destroying 

 their crops, it was thought advisable to make a study of the species of locusts to 

 be found on the range areas of British Columbia and to devise, if possible, remedial 

 measures. 



Eeports had heen received that the Eiske Creek range and adjoining ranges 

 in the Chilcotin district were being seriously damaged by locusts. Consequently 

 this area,, being a typical range area, was selected for special study, although con- 

 tact was maintained with the conditions presented on other range areas. 



The work undertaken in the Chilcotin district was a study of the life-histories 

 and habits of the Orthoptera of the region*. Special attention was paid to the 

 species damaging the grass on the cattle ranges. Some experiments have also been 

 conducted with poisoned bran bait on the open range to ascertain its value. 



In studying the distribution, life histories and habits of a group of insects, 

 such as the Orthoptera, it is of great importance to make a collection of all the 

 species present, in as many localities as possible, with notes on their relative 

 abundance and typical habitats. It is desirable also at the same time to make a 

 study of the Ecological factors, Meteorological conditions, and the Floral and 

 Faunal characteristics of the locality, and the types of soils. If the line of study 

 indicated above is carried out it may be found that certain species of Orthoptera 

 are definitely associated with certain distinct types of soils, vegetation or Faunal 

 zones. If our information be exact enough we may be able to decide with little 

 difficulty what species may be expected to occur in any given locality, and whether 

 any of the species present are liable to cause serious or marked injury. Further- 

 more from poison bait experiments we would be able to tell whether an outbreak 

 is one which can or cannot be successfully controlled. 



The Riske Creek range is a triangular piece of country lying in the angle 

 made by the junction of the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers. This area contains 

 about 300 square miles of which by far the greater part is open grass land used 

 as a cattle range. It lies 150 miles north-west of Ashcroft on the 52nd Parallel. 



The Eiske Creek range is part of an undulating plateau ranging in elevation 

 from 3,000 ft. to 3,50'O ft. and the rivers bounding this area on two sides lie in 

 deep terraced U-shaped valleys from 1,500 to 2,000 ft. below the level of the 

 main plateau. According to the Canadian Commission of Conservation Eeport 

 on the Forests of British Columbia by H. K Whitford and E. D. Craig, the 



