[70] REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
August 26. — Retaining to Echo we took the train to Ogden. We found locusts 
(ft spretus) to be abundant at Ogden in the vicinity of the railroad station, though 
they had not been destructive to crops this year iu the vicinity of Ogden. 
August 27.— From Ogden wo took the Utah Northern Railroad to Franklin, Idaho. 
At Logan locusts were abundant, Hying some twenty feet high in the air, ami at 
Suiithlicld and Richmond a few were to lie Keen. 
At Willard, Cache County, no locusts were reported this year, though they were said 
to have recently entered Malade Valley from the northeast. 
From passengers on the train we gathered the following miscellaneous information: 
July 29, " eclipse day," a swarm of locusts passed over, li ving from the west and west 
southwest, crossing Ryan's Cafion, the Stinking- water River, and devastated or 
"cleaned out" a few farms, eating off the heads of the oats. The moment the eclipse 
took place the locusts settled on the ground as if night fall was coming on, and never 
were to bo seen afterwards. 
At Richmond we saw them jumping about on the ground and also flyiug at an ele- 
vation of perhaps 500 feet in the air, in a general southwesterly course, down the val- 
ley. These locusts were said to have come from the northeast, over the mountains, 
about the 1st of August, none having hatched out iu the spring. The locusts extended 
from Logan to Franklin, and had destroyed one-third of the oats and a third of all 
the garden stuff at Richmond and Logan. 
At Smithvillo, the year previous (1877), the farmers had, in consequence of the 
depredations of the locusts, raised but half a crop of wheat, the young having hatched 
out from eggs laid in 1876. They generally fly southward, toward Salt Lake, from 
Smithvillo as well as other points in Cache Valley. 
August 28. — Locusts were found to be abundant, scattered over the ground in and. 
about the town, and for several miles away from the village. They were coupling by 
the roadsides, though I could not see that any eggs were laid, and no females wen- 
seen engaged iu boring holes in the earth preparatory to egg-laying. They were also- 
abundant in plowed lands from which the wheat had just been harvested, and were 
on the willows eating the leaves, and on the wild roses and golden rods. 
At 7.30 a. m. numbers of them were seen flying and sailing about in the air in vari- 
ous directions, there being no steady breeze. 
They were reported to havo been abundant in Gentile Valley about the 18th of 
August, the locality being situated between Franklin and Soda Springs. 
According to the statements of Mr. Alexander Stalker they arrived here from the 
north, probably Portneuf Cation, reaching Franklin between the 15th and 30th of 
July. 
Mr. Stalker told me that locusts hatched out at Franklin in the spring of 1877, and 
when fledged, contrary to the usual rule, departed to the northeast. Those now here 
he supposes to be their progeny which have come from the breeding grounds to the 
northeast. 
At Franklin some late wheat was damaged, and all except early oats ; the early 
wheat was not hurt. 
I learned from Mr. Stalker that locusts were pretty thick at Virginia City, Mont., 
August 2 or 3, and appeared to be flying northeast towards Madison River. 
At Bozeman they had occasionally been destructive this summer, but no damage 
had been done by them at Beaver Head, Red Rock, Rattlesnake Creek near Argentine, 
Big Horn Prairie, Jefferson Fork, Big Hole, and none at Stinking-water River or in 
Ruby Valley, and uoue at Snake River Crossing (Taylor's Bridge), at Blackfoot, or 
at Portneuf. 
A great many crickets were observed at Portneuf. 
Mr. Stalker told me that the black cricket (Anabrus simplex) will in early summer eat 
young wheat and then leave it. Farmers do not fear them if the grain is irrigated, as 
then they are said to do no harm. They are pretty abundant about Franklin (though 
I saw none while there) ; the young crickets will eat the tender grass and grain and 
when adult will leave it. They are very particular to select the young graiD. The 
best means of destroying the crickets is to herd the sheep in the grain, keeping them 
compactly herded, as the sheep will do little harm to the grain when young, and they 
trample the crickets to death. 
Locusts were reported by passengers on the stage from Montana as abundant all the 
way from Pleasant Valley to Oneida ; but though those seen by us at Franklin had 
evidently flown from Southern Montana, no damage was done by them in Montana 
this summer, as already stated. Between Helena and Fort Benton no locusts were 
heard of. 
On our return t o Salt Lake City, on the evening of the 28th, locusts were seen flying 
low at Brigham. 
August 29. — From various sources we ascertained that the locust had not occurred 
this season south of San Pete, and then they were not abundant and appeared late. 
For a month or six weeks they have been passing in scattering numbers over Salt 
Lake City. They were particularly observed July 29, the day of the eclipse. 
