THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 141, 23 April 1879, Page 2

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST.

The extensive injury done by this insect led to the appointed, a short time ago, of a Government Commission to investigate the subject. Their report, now published, contains much interesting information, of which the following is a part _ The locust area i's of immonse extent; it lies between the 94th and 120 th meridians, embracing nearly 2,000,000 square miles. During the years 1874-77, the direct and indirect losses caused by the insect in States and Territories lying west of the Mississippi and east of the great plains are estimated at not less than 200,000,000 dols. The commission have succeeded in mapping the breeding grounds and districts subject to invasion, and indicating the direction taken by invading and returning armies, As a rulo flight is undertaken during a part of the day, and in fair, clear weather. The desire for food, cloudy or rainy weather, and adverse winds may keep the locusts from taking wing, In all flights they rely much on the wind to carry tliem, usually turning their towards it and drifting backwards. With slight winds, however, they uso their wings, and turn their heads forward, They sometimes travel several days continuously, and several hundred miles, Their velocity varies from 3, 15, or 20 miles an hour, according to that of the wind, It appears they can fly two and a-half miles above the general surface of Kansas and Nebraska and far beyond the keenest vision. This explains their sudden and mysterious appearance in some areas. Two_ swarms have sometimes been seen moving in opposite directions, one in an upper, one in a lower current. There is a tendency in broods hatched in a visited area to return to the native habitats whence their progenitors came. The laying season is six to eight weeks, the average interval of laying two weeks, and the average number of egg masses three, About seven weeks are required for hatching to attain full growth, the insect passing through six stages in that time. The locusts are not led by kings or queens. Their preferred food is the various cereals, but they will eat almost anything at a push —even dry leaves, paper, cotton and woollen fabrics, and dead animals? They often strip fruit trees of their leaves. Blackbirds, prairiehens, and quail are found to be good locust destroyers, In discussing the uses to which locusts can be put, it is urged that they form #n abundant and nutritious article of food, Good broth is made by boiling the unfledged insects for two hours in a proper quantity of water, and seasoned with nothing but pepper and salt, It is said to be hardly distinguishable from beef broth. Boiled, fried, or roasted, the full-grown make pleasant food, and ground and compressed they will keep a long time. Otlieri uses suggested are as fish bait, as manure, and as a source of formic acid.—The Times.