'File 38/2 Miscellaneous Assistance to Sheikh of Kuwait' [‎8v] (16/1258)

( « )
Black Crawling Locusts.
13. In a very few days these white helpless insects turn into blnck hopping
creatures about the size of a large ant. In this stage they are difficult to manage,
they cannot move in the early morning and as soon as the sun gets hot they are
unwilling to move At any time of day it is almost impossible to drive them in
any given direction. It will be found that black locusts, both in the early morning
and m the heat of the day collect in swarms on and under the small bushes that
afford them shelter. We first tried to kill them by beatiny them with brooms and
bundles of thin sticks or the flat side of a spade. This entailed great labour
and was not effective, as a large proportion of those in each swarm attacked contrived
to escape. A number of cheap thm syringes were then made and kerosine oil was
squirted on to the swarms. This was found so effective that some of the zemin
dars employed this method at their own expense. lam inclined to think that
a syringe and very cold water, which could, in Quetta, always be obtained in the
early springt morninys, might so numb the black locusts that they could easily be
killed If the hlack locusts actually get into standing crops the only thing we
found of any use was to drive them with great patience into one corner of the
field, scatter :ibout some ker* sine with a syringe, and set fire to that portion of
the crop. Kerosine oil will kill the black locusts, but if fire is used a good deal
of oil is saved.
Black and Yellow Locusts.
14. After a few davs the blacky locusts become black and yellow. As
they become yellow they become more active and more easy to drive. When they
have passed the black stage, oil cloth and running water are the only remedies.
Flying Locusts (young).
15. Some days after becoming almost yellow the young locusts turn a
pinkish colour and obtain the use of their wings. They do nor. appear possible to
attack at this stage, but fortunately they can be easily driven off.
Orders recommended for issue when Locusts appear:—
16. Should locusts again appear in this district, I recommend to my suc
cessors the adoption of the following measures, in the order in which they are
noted below
1. Kill flying locusts (old) in the early mornings, and drive off what are
not killed.
2. As an experimental measure plough land where eggs have been deposit
ed, but where possible dig up the eggs and destroy them by burial or burning.
3. Keep an accurate record of laying grounds and dates of laying,
4. 'Fry cold water on the black locusts in the early morning and if that
fails, use kerosine oil.
5. Knowing the localities where young locusts exist and where cultivation
exists, if there is a stream between the two, have the banks close to the water abso
lutely cleared of all vegetation and cut vertical and tell people to patrol the stream,
and use baskets unless there are mills.