; 
; 
{ 
: 
: 
51 
where, if at any place in the State, spretus would probably be found, 
informed me that during his residence of six years in that vicinity he 
had not heard of any damage whatever being done by locusts. 
WYOMING. 
Specimens of Rocky Mountain locusts (Melanoplus spretus) were col- 
lected at Sheridan, Cheyenne, Rawlins, Green River, and Evanston. 
The only one of these districts in which they were overnumerous was 
near Sheridan on the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains, where an 
area of something like 200 acres was almost covered with them. This 
was early in September, and they were preparing to deposit their eggs. 
Lack of time prevented ascertaining whether other isolated areas in 
this region were similarly affected. However, from the reports that I 
invariably received from residents, | am brought to believe that along 
the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains there are areas, like the one 
mentioned above, in which spretus has hatched in the past few years in 
great numbers. I think that here is the origin of the swarms that 
have in previous years invaded portions of South Dakota and Nebraska. 
M. atlanis was numerous at Evanston in company with femur-rubrum. 
I found these species destroying the range grass near Douglas, as was 
the case in the adjoining regions of Nebraska. They did not reach far 
west of that point. 
Anabrus simplex, or a nearly allied species of Western cricket, was 
reported as very numerous by a ranchman who rode into Sheridan from 
a point near the mouth of Shell Creek inthe Big Horn Basin. He said 
that he had seen droves of them collected on the banks of the above- 
mentioned stream preparing to cross to the south. I was unable to 
obtain specimens, and could gather no further information on this point. 
Generally, this State seems to have been but very little affected. I 
am informed by the officers of the Experiment Station at Laramie that 
no cases of damage have been reported to them this season. The only 
important observation is in the appearance of spretus in considerable 
numbers west and north of Sheridan. 
SOUTH DAKOTA. 
The situation in this State regarding Melanoplus spretus has been 
more serious than elsewhere. It was impossible to visit the counties 
most seriously affected, but Mr. Saunders, of the Experiment Station 
at Brookings, has given me reliable information on this point. Report 
e/ 
was received early in June from Mr. H. 8S. Wright, of Chamberlain, 
stating that the farmers were very much excited by the prospect of 
much damage being done by the young locusts which had just appeared. 
From this source and from other information received it seems that 
more than the western half and a few of the northeastern counties have 
been affected. The valleys of the Moreau, Cheyenne, and Missouri 
rivers have been affected in the same manner as regions in Nebraska; 
