54 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



had transformed to adults. This species, like its allies, winters in 

 egg pods deposited in the earth, and it is probable that several pods 

 are deposited by each female. The species is widely distributed 

 throughout the State and rarely abundant enough so that it can be 

 con.sidered of much economic importance. 



Control measures. Our studies of the grasshopper problem, at 

 least so far as New York State is concerned, show an intimate re- 

 lation between waste lands or a low type of agriculture land and 

 serious depredations by these insects. The reasons for this in part, 

 at least, is that the relatively scanty vegetation found in such places 

 is unfavorable for the development of fungous diseases and conse- 

 quently the pests escape a heavy death rate which would normally 

 occur where the vegetation was more abundant. Second, the scar- 

 city of food results in its rapid disappearance and the insects therefore 

 become apparently more numerous than would be the case on good 

 sodland, and if the grasshoppers be very niunerous they are impelled 

 by hrmger to move from their scanty pasturage to other feeding 

 grounds. Another important point worthy of recognition in this 

 State is that, broadly speaking, the grasshoppers are local and drift 

 or fly to only a comparatively limited extent. This has a practical 

 bearing in that it means local efforts will not be nullified to any ma- 

 terial extent by migration from adjacent fields. It is hardly to be 

 expected that grasshopper invasions will result in the clearing up of 

 some wild land poorly adapted to agricultural practices, though the 

 recognition of the connection existing between the two will enable the 

 farmer, wherever he be located, to estimate more correctly the 

 probability of serious injury from these pests. A dry season, espec- 

 ially in May and early June, when the destructive grasshoppers are 

 small, means that an unusually large proportion will attain maturity 

 and cause more or less injury for the remainder of the summer, the 

 effect being cumulative if these conditions prevail for several years 

 in succession. 



Destruction of eggs. Plowing to a depth of about eight inches is 

 fatal to the egg masses and, where feasible, this is an excellent pre- 

 cautionary measure, though under most conditions obtaining in New 

 York State, as we know them, we fear that this measure can scarcely 

 be recommended for general adoption. 



Destruction of young grasshoppers. Young grasshoppers, as 

 pointed out above, frequently hatch in large numbers from limited 

 areas and, of necessity, devour all the vegetation in and about their 

 hatching grounds. The hatching of the lesser red-legged grass- 

 hopper occtu-s the latter part of May. The firm, sparsely grasSed 



