The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-09-12
coMMUE1cATIoN.
AMERICAN LOCUSTS.

Ihe following is intended for an answer to the
queries concerning the Locusts, which appeared
IN Poughkeepsle paper.
The American Locust is very unlike any, oF+b n
various kinds, which have appeared in the cas-
tern emlsphere.-Instesl of that dreadful
scourge, the curse of Egypt, and the dread of all
europe, 1t visits us as nothing worse than u very
uncouth musician. and destroyer of a few small
twigs on our fruit trees
Our locust is thick, clumsy insect, about an
men and halt IN length, and, in the Dubious part,
about three-eighths of an inch in thi ckness lis
color Is dusky brown-It has four transparent
veinY wings; four legs joined like a Holsters a
Dill about one fourth of an inch in length, which
always lies close to the breast-the neck very
snort the head about the length of the bill, and
snapped hHe The head OF an OK. The eyes pro-
Ject little more than 4 hemisphere They are
without eye-lids, enclosed in a horny transparent
substance. The basis OF the eye, except the
sights, being ola light red color, tn. whole eve
has reddish appearance. The Dubious part OF
the BODY consists OF seven rings; just where it
JOINS upon the forepart, undereaci pair OF wings,
the male has kind of white bladder. like a nj
per's wind-bag, or bellows, which serves as a mu.
seal instrument, for raising note, much like
the croaking OF small frog. He sounds this a.
bout four seconds, then discontinues it the sam.
length OF time; and on alternately, in fair
weather, from day light till about three O'Clock
IN the afternoon. But they are so numerous that
sahl Sratihg Oh these harsh dlscordant notes, is
very disagreeable. The males are perfectly
harmless IN all other respects. The females be-
ing destitute OF these musical organs make no
noise. They have kind of dagger PROTECTING,
from the belly, about half an inch from the poste.
ri'r extremity, formed of two spines, so close to-
gether, that they appear to be but one With
TINS they make missions into small branches of
trees, where they deposit vast number ofergs-
either the eggs or daggers, possess quality
very destructive to vegetation In three or four
days after the eggs are deposited, the limb dries
from the incIsion to the end and the ayes
change to the colour of falling leaves of au mn.
Inns is all the mischief done by these inse &.
lhey never eat any thing at ALL This kin, to
be tact, by series of observations
When Locusts first appear, they are mu IN
sought by SWINE; and they grow fat upon them
After lew weeks, they become almost destitute
OF animal fluid. But the males continue to sing
TIL they become so dry, that the Dubious part Of
The body may be pulverized like snuff. They
WIN sing several minutes after their heads are
pulled otfi separate ali parts, head, wings, legs
ana an the body from the part supporting the
musical organ, and the singing will be continued
IN tie usual way, about a minute.
ne process of the locusts from the egg is this
- Tie limb in which the egg is deposited breaks
OH at tne lowest Inclslon falls to the ground, and
scltters the eggs from which worm is hatched
10y the heat OF the following summer. The worm
crawis into the earth to depth, proportional to
The lOoseneSs of the soil In the loomv soil of
Columbia and Green counties, about six feet At
ITS greatest depth, it changes TO the chrysalis
state, aud thence to the stale in which il energies
from the earth. This process is familiar to eve.
ry one, who has frequently seen wells and cell
lars dug.
As soon as it energies from the earth, it crawls
very slowly up whatever bush, tree, stump, or o.
ther thing, it meets with first There, after fast
enng its feet irmiy, 1t cracks open on it's back
Just below the Shoulders doubles up into one
third its length, aud gradually draws out its legs
and wings, and in about AN hour, it is entirely
dsengaBed from its old encasement (This old
she IS left standing and il remains so several
months after the whole generation of locusts are
left extnct) Aferthe locust has stood in the sun.
I'LL thoroughly dried, it flies clumsiDy about likc
the common large black night bug.
have not ascertalDed, how large q proportion
OF the United States IS visited by these dekasep.
tennlal insects. They are most numerous in dry
warm soils. They have not visited the country
to the west of Catskll mountains, as far back AS
have travelled, which is about fifty miles al
though upon the east face Of the mountain they
are numerous.
Nothing IS more certainly ascertained. than
that their visits are regularly every seventeen
are several old men in the neigh,
5orhood Of undoubted veracity, who remember
bur Of their returns,
As to the season. and duration of their visits
lrccollect, that in the year 1892 they began to
lPpear IA tlie eastern pat vi Columbia county, |