- 309 
This period is describei the solitary period,-^ First flights were 
short, low, and rather local, whereby adults moved from 25 to several hun- 
dred yards at a time, largely at an altitude of less than 50 feet. High 
dispersing flights followed, and the lights of, many towns in the area 
attracted 'hoppers from. the sky at night. As the adults began to congre- 
gate, short low flights were again observed and concentration points be- 
came sites for potential egg beds. The activity of adults from emergence 
to oviposition is suamarized belov;. 
Table SurnTnarv of adult activity in Colorado. Hew Mexico, and 
Texas in 1939 
State 
First 
adult s 
Solitary 
■oeriod 
First 
congre- 
gation 
First 
Ovinosition 
Colorado-- - 
June 15 
31 days 
July 16 
August 1 
Hew i'^iexico - - - 
June 5 
30 days 
July 5 
July 17 
Texas - - 
June 5 
June 5 on 
Hone 
August 10 (?) 
"During the time designated as the solitary period, adults became so 
v/idely scattered and evenly distributed they could not be found more numer- 
ous than 1 per sq.uare yard, except in a fev: small areas. An area approxi- 
mately 10 by 15 miles near Tucumcari, H, Mex. , which in May had many roving- 
bands of D, longj-pennis . contained on July 5 an average of 1 adult per 
square yard, and not more than 2 per square yard were found in any part of 
the area. Very few locations in Texas contained as many as 1 per square 
yard, and for the most part, adults averaged less than 1 per square rod, 
Oviposition began in 12 to 15 days after the adults began to congregate, 
D, longiuennis failed to congregate in ^exas, apparently because of the 
extremely low population, and remained scattered at the rate of legs than 
1 per square yard throughout the oviposition period. In Texas by August 10 
the ovarian development of females indicated that cviposition had started. 
Long flights practically ceased when oviposition got under way. The aver- 
age population of adult bands of D. longinennis was 20 per square yard. 
The resultsof the 1939 fall egg survey are summarized in the following tables. 
l/ The term "solitary period" is offered by L, A, Spain to designate that 
portion of the adult period which precedes the usual congregation for o-vl- 
position. During this time the adults are scattered and do not show gre- 
garious tendencies. 
