104 



are less destructive to them save in a .few instances. Only a very few 

 borers work in healthy young trees in this region. 



Remedies tried and suggested. — Only a few remedies have been gener- 

 ally tried against these pests in the region of tree claims, and most of 

 these were confined to the various methods of "hand-picking" and 

 crushing. Spraying and dusting with poisons and kerosene emulsions, 

 or the use of road dust, ashes, air-slaked lime, etc., have been reported 

 only in a very few instances. Any or all of these methods of warfare when 

 properly carried on and used intelligently, in accordance with the habits 

 of the insect that is being fought, will repay one for the time thus 

 spent. 



LOCUSTS OR GRASSHOPPERS. 



Aside from several local outbreaks there has been no special damage 

 done during the year by locusts within the United States. Of course, 

 you are already acquainted with the particulars in connection with the 

 local injuries, of which the chief are the following : The Eocky Mount- 

 ain or migratory species at Xephi City, Utah ; the same in Otter Tail 

 County, Minnesota; and the lesser and red-thighed species in the mount- 

 ain districts of the Xew England States. The Utah outbreak was 

 partly investigated by me at the time (May) of its occurrence, through 

 correspondence with the Hon. James B. Darton, of Xephi City. That 

 gentleman supplied me with specimens at different times from which the 

 insects under consideration were determined. The conclusions at which 

 1 then arrived were reported to Mr. Howard in your absence. If I 

 remember rightly, both the Eocky Mountain (Melanoplm spretus) and 

 the California locust [Camnulapellueida) were found among the material 

 received from Mr. Darton. The Otter Tail outbreak has been very care- 

 fully written up by Mr. Otto Lugger, of the Minnesota Experiment Sta- 

 tion ; while Mr. C. L. Marlatt, of the Entomological Division, has reported 

 on the Xew England outbreak. 



While it is not my intention to devote much time to the subject of 

 locust abundance and injuries, I do wish to say a few words concerning 

 the fungoid disease known as Entomoplithora ealopteni of Bessey. Dur- 

 ing the present summer this disease has been unusually abundant in 

 and around the city of Lincoln, Xebr. Several species 01 our native 

 locusts were attacked by it ; but the large yellow one, known as the 

 Melanoplus differentialis Thomas, was destroyed by the thousands. 

 Whether the fungus in question was more plentiful than usual, and 

 did its work of extermination more effectually than during previous 

 summers; or, whether it was on account of my being surrounded by a 

 number of students in botany, and located next door to the botanical 

 laboratory, that attracted my attention to these, 1 do not know. The 

 impression is, however, that the former is the true explanation. On 

 the University campus alone, where differentialis hatched quite plen- 

 tifully and began doing considerable injury to various small trees and 



