The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-06-29
The Seventeen Year Locusts.

The following is the most scientific, and
"a nresnmc. correct account OF the locusts
which now abound in this vicinity that has
yet been given:
The habits Of this locust are quite singn-
lar. They make their appearance 10 Ger
tuin districts every seventeen years. bul
they do not appear in all the IA ne districts
The same year. They are consequently
fund in some part or other Of this country
every few years, but they never appear N
the same district oftener then once III stv-
enteen wears, except where two districts zap
or join. Through the central part OF Penn
syvania, there Is a strip OF country Where
they appear every 7,h and 10th year, alter
nute,y. And in Virginia, there Is vale.
where they appear every 18th and 18Th year
alternately and, according 70 an article
we saw several years since, there is dts.
trict in Texas where they appear three
tines in seventeen years. Entomolesists
account for this by showing that there art
three distinct races that inhabit this district
each maturing at different period.
This insect is not the locust spoken Of by
Moses, as having destroyed all Kinds o.
vegetation in Egypt, as i Is only found u
the United States. In fact Is not street J
one OF the locustI family but belongs Y
the cicdir family, OF which the large bia9k
horse tly is species. The scientific nanit
oil this insect is CleApE spte7adtttm, tro4
the fact that they make their Appearance
every seventeenth years. They emerge
from the ground generally about the first q
June, or il the Spring is early, through th.
II. In - ttitThf
On there fist coming out they are ~ me
form Of grub, or PRpa, with two stout dis.
gers or front legs. They generally GROVE
up twig Of grass, or on the side oil a twie
or shrub whore they can ENJOY the heat o.
the sur. After short warming the fupa
dries and contacts SO as 10 cause Il " burs'
open on the bnck, through which The per
feet insect escapes from its long coniine-
ment. to bask in the warm sunshine, instcad
of cropping its wa, in the dark through the
cold earth.
They begin to lay their eggs about the
middle Of June. These are deposited IN
close lines several inches long, in the ten
der twgs of leaves. The eggs remain IN
these twigs until they are Matched out 10y
the sun. The young IS III the shape Of q
maggo', or small grub; ard as soon as they
escape from the eggs, they drop TO the
ground into which they descend from three
To six feet, and remain there the long period
Of seventeen years, BY which time they are
again prepared to emerge from their gloomy
caverns Notwithstanding the usual idea
that they are destructive TO vegetationj
they are III 10 ways injurious, they live 10y
suction, having bill similar to the horse
fY, and feed on the moisture OH the leaves
Of trees and grass, never attacking the
leaves themselves. The only damage they
do, il done Jy the female in dcposting he'
eggs; the branches generally wilt and dc
from the wounds made by her.
These insects are the tavori,c food o
various animals Immense numbers are
destroyed by the hogs before they cmefg'
. from the ground they are also when ~
their perfect state. eagerly devanrci ny t's
squirrels. Some Of the large birds are als'
fond Of them. The Indians, likewise con
+ slider them as delicate food when fried
and consequently feed upon them whilt
they last In New Jersey, they have beer
used in making soap. They remain unit
the middle Of August or the first Of Sep
TENDER, and then die.