72 
An attempted grasshopper scare was put down by a little investiga. 
tion. Grasshoppers were reported to be in immense numbers in eastern 
Colorado and overflowing into Kansas. I made a trip to the infested- 
region and found the grasshoppers to be a local species (Dissosteira 
longipennis), which was in great abundance over about 300 square 
miles of country near Arriba, Colo. Of course, no danger to Kansas 
was to be feared from these locusts. Arriba is 70 miles west of the 
Kansas line. The limits of the infested area extended approximately 
from Limon 16 miles east, 9 miles north, 7 miles west, and diagonally 
southeast to Hugo, 15 miles. Within this area the two favored grasses 
of the range, buffalo and gramma grass, were eaten to the ground. 
The swarms when visited (July 17) were almost entirely composed of 
pupe. Reports agree that the eggs from which these swarms were 
hatched were deposited last fall by the locusts which flew into this area 
in August and September from the south. And by observations during 
my trip and by regular reports received since then I discovered that 
the locusts as fast as their wings were acquired were flying south. 
Whenever there was a favoring wind from the north the winged indi- 
viduals would rise high in the air and fly directly southward, having 
massed in great numbers along the southern boundary of the infested 
area. When the wind was from the south, however, no flying would 
be indulged in. 
The rate of progress of the army of immature locusts was northward 
at the rate of 9 miles in about two weeks; eastward at the rate of 
21 niiles in 12 days. Over the face of the country traversed by the 
hosts the ground looked bare and brown, owing to the almost com- 
plete destruction of the grass leaves. When the devouring multitudes 
were at work upon the grass the noise of the grinding of their jaws 
was distinc tly audible as a well-defined crackling sound. About the 
station of Limon the hogs of the town were fattening upon the locusts, 
which also furnished food for turkeys, chickens, and hawks. . 
