28 
of the ranchers lost all of their grain, while others threshed barely 
as many bushels as they planted, and none harvested a full crop. 
Just as soon as those insects which succeeded in pulling through the 
wet spring obtained their wings they left for the hills — and there was 
a host of them that did pull through — most of these passed off to the 
eastward ; but others crossed the low range to the southward and south- 
west, while a few lingered in the hills and mountains to the north of 
the prairie. It was lucky, too, for many of the settlers, for the grasses 
were thus allowed to grow somewhat afterwards for hay. Otherwise it 
would have been impossible to obtain feed for their stock during the 
coming winter. 
It is hoped by the settlers of Camas Prairie that the greatest danger 
from this pest has passed, and if the reports in reference to egg-laying 
for the past summer can be depended upon, I am of the same opinion. 
It is claimed that but few eggs were laid on the prairie proper, and not 
many more amongst the surrounding hills and mountains. I must con- 
fess that my search for the eggs of this insect while in the region was 
not very successful; still, there might have been quantities of them in 
districts not visited or examined. No one can more earnestly desire to 
see this region free from the pest than I do, for my two visits to the 
region have brought about a liking for the country, and I have also 
made many friends among the inhabitants whom I wish to see prosper. 
Aside from these personal feelings a desire for general welfare prompts 
me to hope for a speedy relief from the plague. Eggs are known to 
have been laid at three or four places upon the lower mountains to the 
north of the prairie, and others in the hills south of the Malade. None 
of these egg areas, so it is claimed, comprise more than a few acres each. 
As would naturally be supposed, the presence of the pest in the same 
region, for a succession of four or five years has resulted in the produc- 
tion of several of its natural enemies in rather abnormal numbers. 
These, of course, are doing much towards mitigating the evil, but as 
yet they do not appear to have made much of an impression upon the 
vast throng comprising this plague. Several natural enemies of this 
locust were observed, such as the Locust Egg-mite (supposed to be the 
same species that worked on the eggs of the Eocky Mountain Locust in 
Minnesota and other sections of the temporary region), several of the 
Tachinidce or Flesh Flies, three or four kinds of Bobber Flies (Asilidce), 
some of the Ground-beetles (Cicindelidoe and Carabidw), a couple of 
species of Blister -beetles (Meloidce), and one or more of the Wasps 
(Crdbronidce). Besides these, during late summer and early fall, the 
streams of the region were full of one or more species of hair worms 
(Gordius), which most likely had been parasitic within the bodies of this 
and various other locusts. If everything would continue thus favorable 
for the increase of these natural enemies of the locust, they themselves 
would eventually control it; but as their existence is also to a great 
degree dependent upon certain climatic conditions, it is not a safe plan 
I 
