142 PESTS OF GARDEN AND FIELD CROPS 
In the garden injury may 
be avoided by the use of 
poison bran mash in the 
| spring, scattering it over 
| the ground before the plants 
are due to come up. The 
worms will then be Killed 
| before they have done any 
Fic. 136.— Adult of Noctua c-nigrum. damage. Tomatoes, cab- 
Original. 
bages, and other large plants 
may be protected by fitting a collar of paper around the stem, 
setting it two or three inches into the ground, and letting the 
upper edge be three or four inches above the surface. 
Grasshoppers ( Acridide) 
Grasshoppers have been at times among the most destructive of 
pests on American farms. Almost every season finds them in exces- 
sive abundance and seriously injuring crops in some one of the states. 
At least half a dozen species have 
records of periodical devastation, 
but all are of such characteristic 
form, and their life histories are 
so similar, that it is unnecessary 
to attempt to recognize the va- 
rious species. 
The young appear early in 
summer. They have no wings, 
and are quite small, but other- 
wise they are much like the 
adults. They reach the winged 
stage in midsummer or later. Eggs are laid in the ground in pod- 
shaped masses, an inch or so below the surface. Pasture land, 
lanes, or places in undisturbed, cl 
-growing vegetation of any 
kind are chosen for egg laving. Frequently large numbers are laid 
in alfalfa. The insect remains in the egg stage over winter, 
