Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-21
From The Ottawa (Ilnnols, Free Trader, jane al
? The SeVeIltcelI LOcusts.

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These singular insects have made their appear
ance in this section of the State in great abund-
ance.. The timber around this city is perfectly
swarmed with them, and the air is filed viii their
doleful music. .... ...:, ~, sl!.1 4z-s! tya.sE
The habits Of this locust are quite singular
They make their appearance in certain districts
every seventeen years. But. they do not appear
in all these districts the same year. They are
consequently found in some part or other of this
county every few years, but they never appear in
the same district oftner than once in seventeen
years., except where two districts lap or join
Through the central part of Pennsylvania there
is strip of country where they appear every
seventh and tenth year alternately. And in Vir-
gnia there is valley where they appear every
fourth and thirteenth year alternately, and, ac-
cording to an article we saw several years since,
there is district in Texas where they appear
three times in seventeen years. Etomologists ac-
count for this by showing that there three dis
tinct races that inhab this district, each matur-
ing at different periods. ,-..r,... .......s ?.
This insect is not the locust which is spoken of
by Moses as having destroyed all kinds OF vege-
tation in Egypt, as it is found only in the United
States. In fact, it is not strictly one of the To-
custa family, but belongs to the cicade family,
of which the large black horse fly is Species
The scientific nam of this insect is the Cicadte
septemdicum, from the fact that they make their
appearance every seventeen years, They emerge
from the ground, generally about tie first Of June
or if the spring is early, through the month o.
May, and always during the night. On their frs
coming out they are in the form of grub, or pu
pa, with two stout diggers or front legs. They
generally crawl up twig of grass, or on the sd'
of tree or shrub, where they can enjoy the hea
of the sun. After short warming the pupa drie
and contracts so us to cause it to burst open oil
the back, through which the perfect insect es
capes from its long confinement, to bask in TIT
warm sunshine, instead of cropping its way in tn
dark through the cold earth. . a.4 -e.
They begin to lay their eggs about the middl
of June. These are deposited in close lines 0
several inches long, in the tender twigs of trees
The eggs remain in these twigs until they ar
Matched out by the sun. The young are in tn
shape of maggot, or small grub; and as soon
they escape from the the eggs they drop to tn
ground,nto which they descend from three to 81
feet, and reman there the long period of sever
years, by which time they are again prepared
emerge from thoi, glonmy caverns. Notwitt
standing the usual idea that they destructive
vegetation, they are in no way injurious; the
live by suction, having billsimiar to the hors'
f,y, and feed on the moisture of the leaves
trees and grass, never attacking the leaves then
: selves. The only damage they do, is done by Il
i female i'll deposting her eggs; the branchle
generally wilt and die from the wound made
/, her. H.s
These insects are the favorite food of vario
>. animals. Immense numbers are destroyed
:, hogs before they emerge from the ground; th'
= are also, when in their perfect state, eagerly
j, voured by squirrels. Some Of the large birds a
also fond of them. The Indians, likewise, co
. slider them delicate food when fried, and, cons
-, quently, feast upon them while they last
. New Jersey they have been used in making sol
- They remain until the middle of August or first
=, September. Thea die.