68 



iug in the fall, or of tbe young locusts in the spring either by plowing 

 them under or by the use of trapping or kerosene machines, should be 

 comparatively easy. 



The parasite mentioned by Mr. Fellows, the young of the locust mite 

 (Trombidium loeustarum Eiley), was very common, but on the authority 

 of Mr. Fellows was becoming rapidly less abundaut. He stated that 

 during the active operations with the hopper-doser the " catch " was 

 markedly colored by them, and that he had observed this spring on his 

 land unusual numbers of a red spider-like mite, which, from his descrip- 

 tion, was undoubtedly the adult of the locust mite. 



A considerable variation in the percentage of infested locusts in dif- 

 ferent parts of the intervale was noted, and this holds also for the 

 parasites mentioned below. 



On the oat-field, fully 95 per cent, of the locusts bore from one to fifty 

 mites, while of those near the river less than 50 x^er cent, were infested, 

 a fact easily explained perhaps by the greater activity of the non- 

 infested locusts. 



Large numbers of dead locusts, mostly hollowed out and reduced to 

 mere shells, were observed over the infested tract on the ground or 

 clinging to grass or oat stems. Some of the fresher specimens con- 

 tained Dipterous larvae (Tachina and Sarcophoga), and examinations of 

 living locusts taken from the oat field showed that about 5 per cent, 

 were thus parasitized, each parasitized locust containing from one to 

 four maggots. 



A slightly larger percentage proved to be infested with hair worms 

 (Mermis). The abundance of these parasitic enemies the present year 

 would indicate a very considerable reduction in the next year's crop of 

 locusts; but this should not form an excuse for neglecting any direct 

 measures that can be employed against the eggs this fall, or early work 

 against the young should they appear in numbers next spring. 



Mr. Fellows's operations against the locusts, which were confined to 

 the use of the collecting pan mentioned above after the locusts had 

 become mostly winged and the damage largely accomplished, while 

 unsatisfactory to himself would have doubtless been much more effect- 

 ive if undertaken earlier, or if measures had been taken against the 

 early stages. 



In all seventy-two bushels were caught and buried in a trench during 

 a period of about two weeks in the latter part of June and the first of 

 July. Of these, sixty bushels were taken from the three and a half acres 

 of oats into which the locusts migrated from adjacent fields during this 

 time. 



In place of the kerosene and water or kerosene emulsion ordinarily 

 used in these pans, Mr. Fellows employed a strong soap-suds, which 

 assisted in retaining the locusts in the pans. 



Locusts were reported to be moderately abundant above Franklin, at 

 Hill, and also below, near North Boscawen, at the Webster place. On 

 the farm of Mr. Wright, near Hill, they had practically destroyed several 



