Locusts¹

Abstract

THE International Institute of Agriculture, Rome, has issued a memoir summarising published and communicated information relating to locusts; this has been compiled by Prof. Trinchieri, not only from literature, but also from information obtained by direct inquiry from countries adhering to the institute. The memoir will be valuable to all who have to do with fighting locusts, and the information collected is put in a form readily accessible and easily consulted. One criticism is possible, and it is one important to working entomologists: the term “sauterelles,” or “locusts,” has not been clearly defined to mean species that have the habit of migrating in swarms only; and while some countries have included non-swarming “grasshoppers” (e.g. all the Phasgonuridae), others have deliberately omitted all but the real “swarm-migrating “locusts. There are probably not more than six-teen species of “locust” on the earth, but the memoir lists 112 of the family Acridiidae (called Locustidae). Allowing for this, the memoir provides an excellent summary of habits, life-histories, remedies, and international co-operation.