[1G] REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
sweet-potatoes are the least relished by both old and young locusts. Native grasses 
have not been in jured by old or young insects to a degree so as to be visible. 
The young and growing insects remain during the night in old grass, fallen weeds, 
piles of dry hay or straw, or under clods of cart li, bnt never under the latter when the 
former is convenient. 
E. WHITCOMB. 
Republican City, Harlan Coxnrnr, July 31, 1877— 3.15 p. m. 
The locusts are passing over here to-day in vast numbers. Course from northeast 
to southwest. Temperature 89° in shade ; have been Hying since nine o'clock. The 
wind has been brisk until 12 m. Since that it is light. 'Hoppers are flying high anil 
fast, wavering but little. Weather clear, was cloudy this morning, cleared about 8 
a. m. 
B. D. MILLS. 
Plattsmouth, Cass County, Jane 7, 1877. 
The locust eggs have beeu hatching with us ever since early in April, and are still 
doing so in shaded cooler places, as also where turned under by the plow and less ex- 
posed to tho heat of tho sun. A few warm days in succession have repeatedly covered 
the ground with the newly-hatched insects. But one peculiarity has been observed 
and generally commented Upon by all observers, viz, but a very small per cent, of the 
insects increase in size. They are still small, but just hatched ; and, further, each suc- 
cessive hatching did not seem to increase the sum total. A very few are occasionally 
seen from one-half to three-quarters grown ; while it is time (with former experience) 
that the earlier hatching should have wings and arrive at full growth, as the small 
swarm from the south yesterday also indicated. 
We have, during May, had much rainy weather. Some severe storms that washed 
tho ground somewhat severely, and some dead have beeu found on margins of streams; 
hence the general reply, although quite unsatisfactory, has been " drowned," "washed 
away," &c. Now a farmer, William P>. Porter, a thoroughly reliable man, tells me to- 
day that yesterday he went over his wheat-field, and (hiding but few 'hoppers, where 
there had been many a few days before, he got down to the ground and carefully ex- 
amined it, when under the debris, clods, &a, he found millions dead and many largely 
decayed. He could discover no insect or parasites upon them or other cause of death. 
The ground was not rolling enough to wash them off, supposing the rains have caused 
this destruction. My own experiments -show that it is almost if not impossible to 
thrown or freeze them to death, i. e., at a singlo operation. But continued repetitions 
or series of rainy days (and we had ten successive days of rain) may wear them out at 
last. 
A. L. CHILD, M. D. 
September 17, 1877. 
The locust has been seen during many days since August 15 flying over, moving 
with the wind, generally in a westerly direction. None of consequence descending to 
the earth. 
A. L. CHILD, M. D. 
North Platte, Lincoln County, June 15, 1877. 
I saw grasshoppers flying over (north) last week ; think it was the first of the week. 
Have inquired of a number of persons, and so far have found no person that has seen 
any flying except on that day. I have been over on the north side of the North Platte 
River twice since the day they flew over, and saw very few ; and, unless a person was 
looking for grasshoppers, they would not notice any. Last week was on south side of 
South Platte as far east as Warren; saw none that day. 
Have lived in North Platte five years, and during that time, in the month of June, 
the country here has never been as free from grasshoppers as now. 
J. H. McCONXELL. 
Falls City, Richardson County, May 28. 1877. 
Your opinion expressed in the Prairie Farmer that nearly all the eggs in Nebraska 
would hatch seems correct regarding this section. In the fall of 1874 the young 'hop- 
pers or many of them formed in the eggs and hatched about the middle of April, 1875, 
a month earlier than this season. The flying 'hoppers came to this section about the 
9th of August, in 1874, and began to deposit eggs at once. Last fall they came about 
the middle of September, which accounts for the lateness of the hatch this spring. 
Deep plowing under of the eggs is thought here the best plan as regards managing 
them. ■• The nearer the time of hatching the plowing can be done is oonsidered the 
best. 
