25G REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
Extensive egg-laying has been going on since July 1, and still continues in locali- 
ties that do not admit of plow, harrow, or water. So the future is dark. No egg par- 
asites yet noticed. — [J. G. Lemmon in letter to C. V. Riley, Aug. 27, 1879.] 
Grasshoppers have invaded this section. Two large patches are on the Truckee 
meadows. The farmers are not alarmed to any great extent. — [Reno paper, May 9, 
1879. 
Nevada newspapers announce that vast numbers of grasshoppers' eggs arc incubat- 
ing in the Sierra Valley. A spadeful of soil is represented to have contained hundreds 
of thousands of eggs deposited in clusters. The farmers have not turned a furrow this 
spring, knowing that with these pests in the soil their work would be fruitless of re- 
Bult. Grain crops will only foster the scourge, while to let the ground remain idle 
may starve the insects into emigration. Fears are expressed that they may sweep 
down upon the fertile valleys of California. — [Rocky Mountain Ilusbandman, May 22, 
1879. 
THE MOUNTAIN GRASSHOPPERS. 
Reports from the Sierra state that the grasshoppers, which have laid waste Sierra 
Valley for two years past, are now moving toward the west. David Evans, of Long 
Valley, tells the Reno Gazette that within the last ten days the grasshoppers have 
appeared in strong force in Grizzly Valley. They came from the head of Sierra Valley, 
where they are still numerous. Grizzly Valley is at a much greater elevation ; so 
high that grain cannot be cultivated, and nothing but grass is grown. Mr. Evans thinks 
their next move will be into Indian Valley, whence their progress to Big Meadows, 
Plumas County, will be easy. And he surmises that the Sacramento Valley will next 
year suffer from the ravages of the insects. This is at present little more than con- 
jecture, and though the scourge should bo well watched it is too soon to become 
alarmed. The grasshopper of this slope is (Edipo&a a trox, and not the famous Rocky Moun- 
tain locust (Calojjtenus spretus). It would not matter much, of course, what difference 
there may be in names, but for the fact that our grasshopper has not shown such 
migratory and devastating power as the Rocky Mountain rascal, and the probability 
is that in the future his grievous work will be restricted to certain localities as it has 
been in the past. At all events we shall hope so until there is reason to think other- 
wise. — Pacific Rural Press, August 9, 1879. 
THE SIERRA LOCUSTS. 
Our contributor, Prof. J. G. Lemmon, writes to the Truckee Republican an account 
of his recent observations on the locust plague which has afflicted Sierra Valley, and 
to which we have frequently referred. His remarks on the various parasitic foes, 
which bid fair to reduce the evil considerably, are of much interest. The " red, silky 
mite" is here in great abundance, almost every locust in some sections being loaded 
with them, especially at the base and under the wings. So is the Tachina fly, chasing 
swiftly after the hopping or flying locust, darting upon it and depositing an egg, 
which speedily hatches, gnaws its way through the joints of the abdomen to the inte- 
rior, becomes a large, many-legged maggot, swelling out of the bodv of the locust and 
eating its viscera fore and aft, until, weak and incumbered, the victim falls and 
dies. The Gordius, or hair worm, too, is here, and several other undetermined para- 
sites, all seeming to riot upon the abundant food. A congener of the atrocious locust 
himself, a little yellow cricket about the same size, but ten times spryer, is seen to 
vigorously attack the locust on foot or flying, to bring him down, and instantly cut- 
ting off his head, devours a morsel, then twirls his antenna about, and cocks his eyes 
for another victim. 
"And what of the future? When will this visitation cease, or is it overpast? The 
female locusts have been noted in vast numbers ovipositing in gravel beds, in dry 
knolls of the meadows, aud in the sands under the sage bushes of the common. Those 
beginning this work early in the season — in July — it is feared laid perfect eggs aud secured 
