REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



399 



I hoard of any having been seen in the air at any point in this or other 

 States. 



Next to G. spretus, C. differ entialis, the Common Yellow Meadow- 

 locust, has attracted some attention the present year at many points in 

 Western Iowa, and Eastern and Central Nebraska, where it seems to be 

 largely on the increase. It has not exhibited any decidedly migratory 

 habits so far as I am at present aware, but at different points has done 

 considerable injury to vegetables, &c. Notably at Lincoln, on the cap- 

 itol grounds, numerous large, almost black, locusts appeared, and, after 

 partially defoliating the shrubbery and foliage plants, suddenly disap- 

 peared (K. W. Furnas). These were evidently the dark variety, often 

 met with in Central and Eastern Nebraska. This locust, unlike the 

 t rue migratory species, frequents low grounds and seems to multiply most 

 rapidly during wet seasons. It also frequents such localities as are 

 clothed with the rankest vegetation. I believe, however, that there is 

 no reason to fear its ever becoming general in its distribution, at least 

 in sufficient numbers to cause trouble, as there are too many odds against 

 its great multiplication, and these are increasing annually. 



The common Red Legged Locust (C. femur -rubrum) and one or two 

 other allied species have also occurred in numbers a trifle above the 

 normal condition of these species. These likewise need never be feared, 

 for the same reasons. 



THE SNOWY TREE-CRICKET. 



(CEcanthus nivens.) 



This common tree-cricket has been quite common, and will evidently 

 be congregating in raspberry and blackberry patches, as well as on 

 white willow hedges, where it often causes much injury by filling the 

 stems and twigs of these plants with its eggs. Other plants are also 

 deposited into. Several species of Helianthus and one Solidago are, 

 however, its chief stand-by in this State. Scarcely a single one of these 

 weeds escapes without the eggs of one or more of the crickets being 

 thrust into its pithy substance. Aside from these few species I know 

 of no other Orthopterous insect that has done or does special injury to 

 crops or trees in the State. 



THE CHINCH-BUG. 

 (Blissus leucopterus.) 



About ten days before harvest or during the early part of July the 

 Chinch-Bug began to appear in grain fields in great numbers through- 

 out portions of Cuming, Burt, and Washington Counties, and much ap- 

 prehension was felt by many for the safety of the crops. 



Shortly afterwards several very heavy rains visited the region, and, 

 as it would appear, almost exterminated the insect. Upon harvesting 

 the grain it was found to be as good as or even better than usual, and no 

 traces of the Chinch-Bug and its work could be found. 



Whether the disappearance of the vast armies of this insect can be 

 attributed entirely to the rains, or whether other agencies combined in 

 the good work, I am at present unable to state, as I was too much occu- 

 pied with other duties at this juncture to spend much time in investi- 

 gating the matter. In conversing with several farmers regarding the 

 sudden and wholesale destruction of these insects at a time when they 



