[258] EEPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



east, shaping their course to the south after Ihey came into the valleys. It is the gen- 

 eral opinion that they came up Weber Canon and Valley, and crossed over the Wah- 

 satch Mountains ; observations for several years show them to come the same way 

 each year. They commenced layirg on their arrival ; usually laid their eggs on hard, 

 stony ground or gravelly knolls, preferring the latter places to n ellow or loamy soils. 

 In lo77 commenced hatching 2d day of May ; the bulk of them hatched about June 1, 

 and were still hitching June II. They have been known to lay their eggs in July, 

 which eggs would hatch the same season when they were laid in warm, sandy loca- 

 tions. Generally hatched about May 1, before snow-storms had ceased. All of the 

 eggs appear to have hatched this year. In i)revious years would fly in June. When 

 they leave they go southwest, often carried into Great Salt Lake by the south wind. 

 Crops that sulfer the most are cereals — corn, luceru, onions, tomatoes, pepper, cabbage. 

 They never injure sorghum after it is knee-high ; will eat clothing in preference to 

 sorghum. Trapping in water-ditch, in baskets or sacks, and burying. The only 

 means of starting them on the wing is to drive them. When they are ready to emi- 

 grate they seem to take wing on a signal ; one of them will rise up in the air with a 

 whirring sound for a few seconds, when those within heaiing of the sound will begin 

 to rise, and they rise in a larger circle until the whole flock have taken wing. Many 

 die before they lay their eggs; have seen as high as five maggots in a grasshopper. 

 Grasshoppers laid their eggs in 1.54, l~i55, lc5G, and 1^70. Those hatched in 1S77 are 

 not like those of iDrevious seasons; they seem to be smaller; the eggs seem smaller; 

 the eggs grow clear and enlarge previous to hatching. 



The above notes taken during conversation with Bishop W. C. A. Smoots, at Paper 

 Mill Post-office, Utah. About six per cent, of the eggs laid in 1876 have failed to hatch 

 this season, owing to being shaded by lucern and on moist soil. Commenced in pre- 

 vious years to fly about July I to 15 ; bulk took wing about July 10. There is a grub 

 preying on their eggs. They usually start to fly, when they migrate, about noon, choos- 

 ing open fine weather always to fly, so as to resemble a snow-storm. In 1868 and 1869 

 they destroyed everything on the brush land. When first hatched they inclined to go 

 south, but as they grow older they will change their pasturage. Have been observed 

 to stop for a few minutes and turn at right-angles and marcli forward to a wheat-field 

 a half mile off. lu 1856 three hundred and eighteen bushels were destroyed in three 

 days with the help of ten persons. Method of killing was burning and burying. Sheep 

 have been very useful in destroying them ; have known 75 per cent, destroyed by sheep 

 before they got wings. 



The above statement is from Mr. Charles I. Eobson, Paper Mill Post-office, Canon 

 Creek, Salt Lake County 



Mr. Casper, Brenton's Post-office, answers as follows : 



5th question in circular. April, m 1854 and 1855. 8. Bench, adobic, and gravelly 

 ground. 9. Last days of June. 10. Last days of June wheat had been eaten up, and 

 corn was planted 29th of June. IL. Ninety per cert. 12. Cereals, corn, potatoes, &c. 

 13. None. 15. South ; go straight along; will cross running streams. 16. Dug ditches, 

 burned, trapped in sacks. 1/. No means an entire success. 19. By only a few late 

 in the fall. 21. Sea-gulls have been very destructive to the 'hopper. 



Statement of Mr. William Casto, sau e post-office, eleven miles south of Salt Lake 

 City : In July, 1853, the first grasshoppers came into Salt Lake County. Most of them 

 were at Haliday's Settlement (residence of Mr. Casto). They came from the east about 

 noon. (I saw them on the Cache la Poudre, between Laramie and North Fork of the 

 Platte, in 1847.) Prefer a gentle breeze from the east or north to travel in ; always fly 

 in brigbt, clear weather. When they alighted in 1853, would cover the ground an inch 

 deep. 



In 1852 they went in a westerly direction, but spread out a great deal ; they will not 

 travel against a head wind or in cloudy weather ; they rise about 10 o'clock a. m. 5. In 

 April, if very warm ; in favorable locations about March 20. 7. Dryest, gravelly, and 

 clay soils. 8. Same. 9. In July. 10. In July about 1st ; planted garden the 4th of 

 .July and raised vegetables. 11. Eighty per cent. 12. Wheat and corn. 13 and 14. 

 Potatoes. 15. To the nearest grain-fields from hatching-grounds; will not eat sorghum 

 until other supplies are exhausted. 16. Trapping in ditches, with sacks hung over 

 wheat, and killing them on clover in the morning. 17. Driving in swift running 

 ditches, and trapping with sacks and burying them. 19. No. 21. Have been very de- 

 structive, but hardly perceptible. 



Bishop J. McCullough's statement, Alpine City, Utah County, thirty miles south of 

 Salt Lake City : 5. Generally latter part of April and May. 7. Waste lands, roads, 

 sides of roads, and travel for the nearest wheat-patch. 12. Small grains, vegetables ; 

 f}Ot very fond of sorglmm. 13. Pease and sorghum. 15. South, but will move in every 

 direction to obtain pasturage. 16. Driving into straw and burning; brushing with 

 heavy brush. Sheep a\e very efficacious. 19. No. 20. Yes, in 1854 and 1855. 21. 

 Chickens ahead of other birds or animals. We have saved our grain by water ditches, 

 and have trapped in sacks in ditches, and have buried bushels in pits. 



While in San Pete County and traveling up the Saven Kiver to this place, fifteen 



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