4 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



your attention, therefore, under this head, more particularly to topics 12, 13, 14, and 

 15, of Circular No. 1, or, crops ivhich suffer most ; crops most easily protected ; crops which 

 suffer least ; and the prevailing direction in which the young insects travel in your section, or 

 any other facts in relation to the marching of the young. Also, I desire all ohservations 

 that are at all reliable as to the habits of both the young and the loinged insects during the 

 night, especially as to whether the latter have ever been known to continue flying after dark. 



While there may be little to add to what is now known of the natural history and 

 habits of the Rocky Mountain locust {Caloptenus spretus Thomas), with which the 

 Commission is more particularly concerned, there is much of interest yet to learn of 

 the other species of locusts that are indigenous in your locality, and are often con- 

 founded with the spretus. Any facts as to the habits, time and mode of depositing eggs, 

 state in which the winter is passed, time of acquiring wings, or, in short, any observations 

 upon the native species, and more particularly those that are injurious, are earnestly 

 desired by me. The observations should, as far as possible, be accompanied by speci- 

 mens, and, indeed, I shall be glad to receive specimens of the different locusts or 

 " grasshoppers " from your locality in different stages of growth. They may be killed 

 either by dipping in hot water, by means of a little chloroform, or by throwing in alco- 

 hol ; and should be mailed to me in stout wooden or tin boxes, packed in coarse saw- 

 dust or cotton previously moistened with alcohol. Living specimens, which are pre. 

 ferred, are best sent in tight tin boxes along with a small amount of appropriate foorl. 



II. Insect enemies and parasites. — These will differ also, according to locality, 

 and I shall be glad to receive specimens of all invertebrate animals that may be found 

 preying either internally or externally on the locusts. Such specimens, when soft or 

 small, are best preserved in alcohol, and mailed between two layers of cotton thor- 

 oughly saturated with alcohol, in a small and tight tin box. When larger they may 

 be mailed as already indicated above. I respectfully solicit answers to the following 

 questions : 



1. AVhat invertebrate animals are known to attack the locust-eggs in your locality, and 

 to what extent have they destroyed the same ? 



2. What insect enemies attack, first, the young; second, the winged locusts; and 

 what percentage of these have been destroyed by them ? 



3. State any facts that you know about the habits and transformations of the differ- 

 ent parasites or other enemies observed. 



III. Remedies. — Under this head I desire general reports on topics 16 and 17 of Cir- 

 cular No. 1. First, as to the means employed in your section for the destruction of the 

 unfledged insects, or to protect crops from their ravages, and how far such means have 

 proved satisfactory ; second, the means employed against the winged insects, and how 

 far they have proved satisfactory. 



I would more particularly call your attention to the following points : 



4. Has any application, either in powder or liquid, been used that protected special 

 plants from locust ravages without injuring the plant ? 



5. Has harrowing of the eggs in the fall been resorted to, and with what effect ; or 

 have any other means been employed to expose or break open the egg-masses? 



6. Where satisfactory results have followed the plowing under of the eggs, state 

 the time of year of such plowing, the depth, and the nature of the soil. 



7. Where ditching has been resorted to to protect fields from the inroads of the un- 

 fledged locusts, state the measure of success, the nature of the soil, and the character, 

 particularly as to the depth and width, of the ditch. 



If any measures not recommended by the Commission in its bulletins are or have 

 been adopted, please specify them. 



If you desire to test any special measure involving expense, where such test seems 

 w'arranted by possible practical results, please correspond with me for further advice 

 and instruction. 



IV. Devices for destruction. — Under this head I desire reports as to the efficiency 



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