275 - 
GENERAL RENDERS 
GRASSHOPPERS (Acrididae) 
General. W. E. Dove (June 3 )• Pirst adults of migratory grasshopper 
Melanoplus mexi canus Sauss. reported late last week from western 
South Dakota, Nebraska, and eastern Wyoming. Principal infestations 
of migratory range grasshopper ( Dissosteira longipennis Thos.) 
local in the Panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas, and in northeastern 
New Mexico, eastern Colorado, and southwestern Kansas, where extremely 
heavy numbers hatched this spring. Other areas of these States 
rather lightly infested, with the exception of Colorado, where severe 
infestations of crop lands occur. Hatching throughout this area 
practically complete. (June 12) : Adults of M. mexi canus becoming 
common in the northwestern Great Plains States. Good control being 
obtained. Heavy infestations remain in brushy river bottoms and bad 
lands, where control operations are difficult. In the Southwestern 
States approximately 10 percent of D. longipennis have reached the 
adult stage in the southern part of the infested area of New Mexico, 
and about 3 percent in Texas. (June 20): Adults of M. mexi canus 
appearing in considerable numbers throughout most of the infested 
area of the northwestern Great Plains States, except in central and 
eastern North Dakota, where hatch is not complete and development 
somewhat behind that of the rest of the area. Percentage of adults 
about 75 percent in Colorado and southwestern Kansas; from 20 to 50 
percent in Nebraska; from 20 to 40 percent in South Dakota; about 
10 percent in eastern Montana, with the greater number rapidly 
becoming adults; less than 10 percent in western North Dakota; and 
about 5 percent in the Red S-iver Valley of Minnesota. Mating observed 
in all infested States south of and including Wyoming and South Dakota. 
Heavy flight of M. mexi canus reported in Baca County, Colo., where 
adults from the north flew into crops. Small local flights observed 
in Kansas and Nebraska. Observed in flight high in the air in an 
area 20 miles north of Miles City, Mont. Plights in this aroa 
apparently inevitable, as there is an infestation of 4,225 square 
miles extending from lS miles north of Miles City northward to the 
Musselshell River. Entire district uniformly infested at rate of 
50 per square yard. All green vegetation gone in many places and 
sage brush 50 -percent destroyed. No noticeable effect by rain in 
reducing populations in the northwestern Great Plains States. 
Hoppers apparently in a weakened condition in some localities, but 
very few dead nymphs found. Elesh fly parasites Sarcophaga kellyi 
Aid. appeared aoout 3 weeks earlier this year. Parasitization re- 
ported as 10 percent in southwestern North Dakota, and in three south- 
eastern Nebraska counties, with some spotted activity in eastern 
Montana. D. longipennis in the Southwestern States is rapidly reach- 
ing cno adult stage in the southern parts of the infested aroa. About 
S0 P cr cent arc adults in the southern part of the infested counties 
of northwestern New Mexico, about 25 percent in the southern counties 
of the Texas Panhandle, and from 2 to 5 percent in the more northern 
parts of the Texas Panhandle, Colorado, and the Oklahoma Panhandle. 
