LOCUST RAVAGES IN CALIFORNIA 
255 
paratus of the insects by way of the ten pairs of spiracles or breathing holes along 
the sides of the body. 
The invasion of 17 years ago was only for one season. Why this one is prolonged 
^or three years it would bo interesting to know. It is hoped this is the last year of 
their ravages, if, indeed, they are allowed to complete their work, owing to the para- 
sites, but will rise and flee away as soon as able. 
The attacks of the "red louse," or "silky mite," have been alluded to iu the pre- 
vious articles. I have detected it in several localities, and should it become numerous, 
the atrocious locust is doomed, as appears from authentic accounts of its friendly 
services in the interior. 
In 18bl Sierra Valley was but thinly settled, and the locust damages were not so 
important owing thereto, but statements from eye-witnesses convey the idea that in 
numbers the locusts far exceeded any experience of this invasion. 
For a year or two they had been at work in the north end of the valley, just as now, 
rapidly increasing and traveling southward, precisely as in this case — but when they 
came around Newman's Point the broad living tide was immense, absolutely several 
inches in depth. 
Dave Newman states that when he became aware of the direction of their approach, 
about the 5th of May, he, with Bill Peck and others, dug a trench 50 feet long by 3 
feet wide and 3 feet deep across their course. The young locusts fell into it, smothered 
and died, while others traveled on over. He then shoveled out the dead ones and be- 
fore night the trench was filled a second time, estimated at 50 bushels. He then de- 
sisted, for the stench of the dead he feared would be worse for his family than the loss 
of crops. They piled up against his barn like snowdrifts, to the height of several 
feet — estimated at 500 bushels. 
Jonah T. Jones says they fell into and filled a row of post-holes to the top and died, 
amounting to a great many bushels. 
George Humphry was driving a stage through the valley at the time, and says the 
road was often blocked as if with mud holes by grasshoppers ; that they lay in banks 
along the fences and buildings. 
No one reports any parasites on them, but as they were known to climb up from the 
ground to roost nights, where possible, it is supposed that the fear of the red mite 
which travels the ground was the cause, as this is the way with the Rocky Mountain 
locusts when so menaced. The autumn of that year saw the last of them. They did 
not fly away, it appears, but lay down and died in heaps before depositing eggs. 
I have called attention to this locust enemy on every occasion, and much search has 
been instituted, but as yet only a few report the presence of the mite, and those in 
but a few places and in small numbers, it is to be feared that they are not numerous 
enough to destroy or drive out the locusts, but there is yet time for complete rescue. 
Their appearance at the East on our parallel is reported as occurring from April 17 to 
August 21. 
Would that the welcome little red, silky locust-mite could be reported as reddening 
the ground of Sierra Valley in all the egg-infested localities. 
THE LOCUST IN CALIFORNIA IN 1879. 
The following items are taken from various sources : 
I did not think, when investigating the locust ravages here last spring, that botany 
would take me away from the vicinity all summer, but so it has happened, and now I 
am just returned to find that the season has been a terrible one for this beautiful valley. 
The damages by the same locust as last year, the QEdipoda atrox, exceeded that of 
last year, which was about §75,000, and may be estimated at §100,000 in a community 
of about 2,000 persons, with 91 farms of 47,000 acres. * * * The ravages of the 
■atrox this season extended back for 20 miles on its old ground northward, and about 
40 miles direct march to the southward. 
