348 



G. E. BODKIN AND L. D. CLEARE. 



North West District. Mr. Abraham, Eesident Agricultural iDstructor, assisted 

 for some months by Mr. E. M. Morgan. 



Pomeroon District. Mr. W. H. Mathews, Eesident Agricultural Instructor, 

 assisted at various times both by Mr. C. C. Dowding and Mr. Indrobeharry. 



Essequebo Coast. Mr. C. C. Dowding, Agricultural Assistant, assisted occasionally 

 by Mr. P. M. de Weever and Mr. Indrobeharry. 



The working out of the life-history of the locust was performed by Mr. L. D. 

 Cleare, Jnr. 



Mr. C. K. Bancroft, Assistant Director, temporarily directed operations in the 

 North West and Essequibo districts. The plan of the whole campaign was arranged 

 by the Director of Science and Agriculture in collaboration with myself. I had 

 charge of the actual execution of the work. 



Life-History of the Locust. 

 Oviposition. 



This operation, under field conditions, appears to take place during the cooler 

 hours of the afternoon. In a suitable spot large numbers of females congregate 

 for this purpose and at times almost cover the surface of the ground, the most 

 favoured localities being on soil of medium texture, though in some cases holes 

 are drilled in the stiff clay. In all cultivated areas where pegass soils exist the 

 decayed root system of palms, which are familiar objects on such recently cleared 



Fig. 2. Scelio venezuelensis, Marsh, 

 eggs of Schistoeerca. 



parasitic on the 



grants, are specially selected as an egg-laying site. Several hundred egg-masses 

 were frequently removed from these places. The egg-masses are often placed 

 in the soil along the edges of drainage trenches and on the sides of raised earthen 

 darns. From frequent observations it appears that the most suitable spot is one 

 where the soil is of medium texture and neither too dry nor too wet. With a little 

 practice it becomes a fairly simple matter to indicate in locust-infested areas where 

 the eggs are to be found. 



