12 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



His second visit was in June, at which time the insects had advanced 

 in some sections of his district to the pupa state, and at what may be 

 designated as the critical period so far as this section was concerned. 



The result of Mr. Thomas's visit to Nebraska at this time will be best 

 shown by tbe following report made by him and Professor Aughey to 

 the executive of that State, Governor Garber. to whom we are likewise 

 greatly indebted for aid and encouragement in our work in Nebraska. 

 We quote from the Omaha Bepuhlican of June 16, 1877, in which the 

 report was first published : 



In response to the request of Governor Garber and a number of citizens of Nebraska, 

 Professors Thomas and Aughey have prepared a statement giving the results of their 

 personal examinations of those portions of Nebraska in which the grasshoppers depos- 

 ited their eggs last fall. The statement embraces information covering every such lo- 

 cality ; and in their letter to Governor Garber, transmitting their report, Professors 

 Thomas and Aughey state as their general conclusion that " although the locusts re- 

 main in limited areas in the eastern counties, the prospects in Nebraska are even more 

 jiattering than the most hopeful of your citizens anticipated a month ago.'' 



THE REPORT. 



Our examinations cover the greater part of the settled portion of the State, and have 

 been made over quite an extensive area in person. From the other sections, which we 

 have not been able to visit, we have obtained, within the last few days, direct and 

 positive information which we are satisfied is correct. We have made it a point to 

 visit in person the areas supposed to be the worst infested, and have not contented our- 

 selves with inquiries at these points, but have gone out on the farms in order to see 

 for ourselves the actual condition of affairs in this respect. Before mentioning any of 

 the details we may state, as 



THE QENERAL RESULT OF OUR EXAMINATIONS^ 



First. That the eggs have been nearly or quite all hatched out ; at least, so few re- 

 main unhatched that it is wholly unnecessary to consider them in this report. 



Secondly. That the locusts which hatched out in the sections west of the meridian 

 of Lincoln have died off to such an extent that but few remain, not enough at any 

 po'nt, so far as we have observed or could ascertain, to do any injury to the crops. 



Thirdly. The only section in which we find them in numbers sufficient to give any 

 uneasiness is the eastern tier of countiies lying along or near the Missouri River ; and 

 although found somewhat numerously in certain areas in this section, their numbers 

 are much less than the most hopeful of your citizens anticipated a,few weeks ago. 

 Even these have done but little injury to crops up to the present time, and seem to 

 have lost their usual ravenous appetites and vitality. In fact, scarcely an injured 

 field can be observed in a day's ride through the sections where they are considered 

 most numerous. We have traveled through these areas with persons from States east 

 of the Mississippi, visiting Nebraska with a view of locating here or examining tbe 

 lands, and without exception they have expressed suri)rise at the uninjured condition 

 of the crops after the alarming reports they have heard. 



Fourthly. In those sections where they yet remain, not only are they far less active 

 than usual, but as a rule they are confined to very small areas irregularly distributed; 

 or, as generally and correctly expressed by the farmers, "they are in spots." In such 

 places the farmers are generally fighting them vigorously and with every prospect of 

 success, and we are glad to say that they are, with few exceptions, hopeful and confi- 

 dent that they will suffer but little loss. As a general rule, we find the farmers confi- 

 dent that in tbe future they will be fully able to cope with the young. In some places 

 precautionary and defensive measures have been neglected until tbe locusts have ad- 

 vanced to a size at which it is more difficult to destroy them. A few of the early hatch- 

 ing, where any of them remain, are already entering the winged state. 



