October 1, 1913. 






















Recently, while attending the 50th anniversary meeting of the 
Entomological Society of Ontario at Guelph, Canada, Dr. C. Gordon 
hewitt, Entomologist for the Dominion of Canada, handed us these 
Hotes on the Criddle mixture, by the originator, Mr. Norman Criddle, 
Bregsbant, Manitoba, and they are being used here with the consent 
Mr. Criddle. The notes will have a double value, in that they 
Bet only show the work of a careful observer but also the much to be 
desired qualifications in a field entomologist, namely, the ability 
to utilize the results of careful observation. 
SOME NOTES ON THE "CRIDDLE MIXTURE." ' 
| The origin of the grasshopper bait, christened by the late Doc- 
tor Fletcher, Criddle Mixture," was due to an observation that 
Ma ahoprers were in the habit of abandoning all vegetation in favor 
of freshly-dropped horse dung, this preference being so marked as to 
ié6ave no doubt in the minds of even the most casual observers. Drop- 
pings left several hundred feet in the midst of growing grain at 
ghee attracted grasshoppers from tne edges of fields so that they 
@ht be seen marching steadily towards the direction from which the 
odor came, and then, having speedily devoured the droppings, they 
attacked the surrounding crop with the result that a large bare patch 
would be made in the midst of it. A few examples such as this seem 
in temselves sufficient evidence of the substances attractiveness, 
but if more were needed the roads and manure piles amply verified 
what had been observed before. 
. The second ingredient, salt, was also added through observation. 
It is well known that clothing and the handles of any farm implement 
will attract grasshoppers on account of the salty taste, caused 
through contact with the human skin, while experiments supplementary 
to this observation showed that they readily ate any article steeped 
in salt water. For this reason salt was added and proved particular- 
F valuable after the droppings became dry. 
The third ingredient was largely a matter of cost and convenience. 
aris green, arsenic, or arsenite of soda would doubtless prove equally 
ats as a killing agent, and Paris green was selected on account 
Of its availability in sufficient quantity. After numerous experiments 
the following formula was adapted as most suitable: 
7 
Horse Groppings., preferably fresh, by measure----- 100 parts 
Salt-------~--------+----+-~--------- ~-----+---- --l] pound or part 
Paris green--------------- ~ aa ----- -- - +--+ --- 1 pound or part 
| This approximates 15 gallons by measure of horse manure to l 
pound of Paris green and salt. It may be mixed in two ways, namely, 
iry with sufficient water added to make a thoroughly moist, but not 
loppy, mash; or by placing the Paris green and salt in water first 
