28 



ego- sacs were isolated and during the latter part of May the young 

 grasshoppers made their appearance. In the first and second stages 

 they are pea green, but in the third stage changes in the ground color 

 occur. Some remain green, while equally as many become brown. 

 The body and appendicular markings of the two color varieties remain 

 the same. This locust hibernates in the egg condition, though the 

 eggs are deposited much later than are those of drfUr^nfkd^. Adults 

 placed in the breeding cages on October 15 deposited eggs November *2. 

 Five molts occur before maturity is reached. Young emerging from 

 the eggs on May 28, 1900, molted June 10, June 19. June 29, July 8. 

 and July 28. Adults in confinement are shy and soon die in captivity. 

 In destruetiveness to crops of the Mississippi Delta this species stands 

 next to differ entialis. It readily attracts attention by its size, color, 

 and vigorous flight. Notwithstanding its prevalence, not a single 

 specimen was found attacked by parasitic flies or by the South African 

 fungus. Scelio hyalwiipermis Ashm. was bred from the eggs, as was 

 Scelio cedipodcB Ashm. 



Fig. 16. — The large black grasshopper Dictyophorus reticiUatus (original). 



The egg beds of this species being similar in position to those of 

 the Melanoplus differentialis the remedial measures recommended for 

 differentialis will prove effectual for this. 



Dictyophorus reticulaiMS. — (See tig. 16.) This large black species 

 is a short-winged form, is only locally distributed and may occur only 

 in spots, even upon a small plantation. It is a voracious feeder, pre- 

 ferring the coarser grasses and sedges of swamp areas. Its wander- 

 ing into cultivated crops i> only occasional, and hence this locust does 

 not attract much attention. 



The eggs urc deposited in sodded areas nil during the month of 

 August (see tig. of egg pod: tig. 17). 



By September 15 females are rare, not more than 10 per cent of 

 hundreds collected at this time were females. This is just the oppo- 

 site of tlie observations upon differentialis. Male- usually die a few 

 day- in advance of females. Eggs of Dictyophorus hatch a- early 

 a- April -J 11 . A- is usual with most Acridids five molts occur in the 



