The Locust Plague and its Suppression

Abstract

THE volume before us has been prepared by the author after nearly ten years' observation of locust ravages in the Argentine Republic and in South Africa. He is profoundly convinced of the enormous damage caused by locusts in various parts of the world, and has brought together a considerable amount of information respecting the various means which have been adopted for destroying them. Dr. Munro writes from a practical point of view and treats the locusts of different countries as, to al intents and purposes, the same insect. His book will no doubt be very useful to agriculturists in countries infested by locusts; but he scarcely allows for the vari ations in habit which exists between different species. For instance, he observes that the South American locusts are said to breed on the shores of certain lakes in Bolivia, and asserts that if they could be destroyed in this locality they would be exterminated from the whole of South America (!). It is hardly possible to take such a remark seriously; but we may perhaps observe that even if the story were true, it could only be true of one or two species at most. It is also suggested that ophthalmia in Egypt (well known to be spread by flies) may be caused by locusts.