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By LYT WOOD
Rappahannock News Correspoodeal
A superabundance of several types of insects attracted considerable attention in 1978. Locally, gardeners were plagued by hordes of grasshoppers during the past season. (One afternoon in late August, I planted eight lettuce seedlings. Grasshoppers devoured them all completely back to ground level by 8 o’clock the next morning.)
Sudden, irregular, manifold increases in populations of animals—such as the grasshoppers—are known as “irruptions.” Unusually high populations of locust leafminers and funny-looking insects known as walkingsticks have been very apparent this year. Their defoliating activities are often conspicuous, particularly where they are concentrated at high-elevation locations.
I have also received reports of excessive numbers of other insects, including lady beetles and cicadas. Sudden appearances of large numbers of these insects don’t actually indicate population increases; they merely represent seasonal or periodical activities such as breeding or migration, to be discussed next week.
WALKINGSTICKS
These insects are seldom noticed. They are long and slender, resembling twigs, and may be green or brown in color. Their skinny legs look like grass stalks. Although common and fairly large—up to 4 inches in length—they are rarely seen because of their perfect camouflage. Sometimes they will even sway hypnotically, like leaf-stems in the breeze!
Walkingstick populations are occasionally irruptive. Local, highly concentrated
81.7%