[112] REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



hatched in the latter part of May. The valley of the Saguache River is in a high state 

 of cultivation, and all small grains and vegetables were eaten. 



The grasshoppers of 1877 seemed to be weak, and have done but little damage. The 

 direction of flight in July, 1876, was northeast, across the Saguache Mountains, to Lake 

 County. 



The San Luis Park comprises Saguache, Conejos, Costilla, and part of Rio Grande 

 Counties. It is two hundred and ten miles from north to south and ninety miles at 

 its widest from east to west. The park is surrounded by high ranges of mountains on 

 every side. A glance at the map will show the Sangre de Christo and Raton on the 

 east, Saguache on the north and northwest. Sierra Madre on the west and southwest. 

 The u])per portion is fertile and cultivated. The numerous valleys putting into it and 

 the '' Vegas" are generally taken up. Vast herds of cattle, horses, and sheep find pas- 

 turage ; it has an average altitude of 7,500 feet ; the soil is loam, sand, gravel, and 

 alkali plains. It is most evident that it is the hatching place of the late grasshoppers, 

 which find but little to feed upon except grass, and as soon as able leave this section 

 for the valleys. The prevailing winds are westerly, blowing with great violence in 

 the afternoon. Thus, naturally, the insects fly before the wind in the afternoon ; in 

 the forenoon they take a northerly and southerly direction. The parasite was not 

 noticed until last summer (1876). During the present season its presence has been 

 detected in almost every section where I have been. 



In Lake County is an extensive section of cultivated land, lying along the main 

 Arkansas. For four years the ranchmen have been "eaten out of house and home by 

 the 'hoppers." In 1876 strong hopes were entertained that they would be exempted 

 from the dreaded scourge, but in July and first weeks of August vast swarms co.me 

 from the southwest in such numbers as precluded any attempt to prevent their ravages. 

 Every green thing was eaten except pease (a portion of the crop had been harvested). 

 The insects remained about fifteen days, and passed off to the east. The adjoining 

 cou]ity of Park suffered considerably, especially the pasturage. 



Very few grasshoppers hatched in Lake County the present season, the early crop 

 dying similarly to those in Huerfano County, and about the same time. 



Park County comprises a vast extent of grazing land and but little cultivated ; it 

 embraces the famous South Park, which has an altitude of 8,000 feet. Grasshoppers 

 hatched in the eastern portion in March and disappeared. During my trip another 

 crop were hatching, which has done but little damage thus far. This county is also 

 a breeding- place in its extensive sandy plains, and furnishes the late recruits to destroy 

 the valley products. 



Crossing the dividing' range between Lake and Gunnison Counties, at Cottonwood 

 Pass, I found crops in the Gunnison Valley in a fair state of forwardness ; a few grass- 

 hoppers had made their appearance. This promising county has been recently settled, 

 within two years, and there is but little to report as to past experience. The adjoin- 

 ing county on the north summit has more direct connections with Northern Colorado, 

 has been longer settled, and has suffered considerably. I can only speak from reports. 



Passing down the valley of the Gunnison, miners, prospecters, and hunters informed 

 me that vast swams had followed the course of that stream in a northwesterly direc- 

 tion ; that in some seasons the herbage was completely destroyed.. These swarms had 

 evidently hatched in the vast plains of Western Utah. 



The counties of Hinsdale, Ouray, Sau Juan, and La Plata are principally devoted to 

 mining, although in the valleys of the numerous streams on the western slope are 

 many tine bodies of arable land. The Utes still hold possession of a large portion of 

 Southwestern Colorado, which prevents improvement by whites. 



In the valleys of the Rio San Miguel and Rio Dolores, grasshoppers had not com- 

 menced hatching in June, but eggs had been deposited. These streams are in Gunni- 

 son County. 



In the neighborhood of Parrott City, La Plata County, are extensive cattle ranges, 

 and the country is rapidly settling up. 



The valley of the San Juan River, both in Colorado and New Mexico, as far as the 

 boundary-line of Utah, suffered very little in 1876, and the early crop of 'hoppers in 1877 

 disappeared without doing material injury. 



Adjacent portions of New Mexico have been injured very little. The president of 

 the New Mexican Stock and Agricultural Association informed me that no trouble was 

 experienced by his colony (in Colfax County) in 1876, and up to June 15 were entirely 

 free, while on the opposite side of the mountains the Taos Valley had been swept clear. 



In all this vast extent of territory there are absolutely no means of preventing 

 hatching or destruction either of young or old insects. The extensive plains — many 

 of a sandy, barren nature — afford the best hatching-places that could be devised. 



The young are hatched in these sections in July, August, and September, and take 

 flight as soon as able for regions where subsistence can be easily obtained. In their 

 course they cross the highest ranges of mountains; taking advantage of the strong 

 westerly winds which prevail. Flying requires little exertion. Until some means shall 



