The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-08-26
From the Ashla.. der, July 9, 1851.
THE LOCUSTS.

I" The seventeen year locusts" have again
made their appear ance according to predc-
ton, and their music is already heard in oul
| forests.
The following article from the pen of that
Scientific naturalist, Gideon B. Smith, of Bal
timore, gives the most accurate description oi
this insect, that We have met with. So far as
the prediction as to the manner of their ap-
pearance is concerned, the statements of the
| writer are, as we know from personal obser-
walton, being verified to the letter.
The seventeen year locusts, as they will ap-
| pear in Baltimore, and all the country from
Germantown Pa, to the Patapsco River, in
Maryland, and from the Deleware river to
the Blue Ridge, in May, 1851.
We find, in going the rounds of the press,
an interesting article, by DIR. Gideon B. Smith
of this city, in relation to the appearance of
the seventeen year locusts, from which we
copy the following
About the 10th of May, day or two ear
lier or later, according to the weather, they
will tegin to leave the ground. You will see
their old shell adhering to the bark of tree
or shrub. But few will be found the first day,
more the second, and SO en-, increasing in
number till about the 9th of May, when the
graetest numbers will appear, and then in less
numbers thereafter till about the fifth Of j une,
when no more will leave the earth
When they como up from the earth-al-
ways about daylight or a little before-they
Immediately climb the first object they meet
with, a tree, or bush, or stake, or anything
two or three feet high. They then lay hold
OF the bark, fixing themselves firmly by their
claws, and commence working themselves out
of their shell. which is done by rupturing it
on the back, between the shoulders, and draw
ing themselves out. AS soon as they get
fairly out, they seize hold of the old shell
with their claws, raise themselves and begin
to expand their wings. Their bodies and
wings at this time exceedingly delicate,
white and moist ; but few minutes exposure
to the air dries and hariens them, SO that by
the time the sun is fairly risen, they are per-
feet and can fly. The wings before s1>bing
are beautifully folded up, and it is Sul
sight to see them unfolded, and in a f.
utes changed from tie most soft and der
/ tissue, to the firm and ridged wing OF the per
feet insect. If it be wet or cloudy day, they
are very apt to perish in the operation of
sloughing and drying.
About the 18th of June they commence de-
posting their eggs: This is a very interest
ing sight. You will see one attached to a
| limb or twig, and it will not fly away as you
approach. Look closely and you will see it
excavating hole in the limb with its curious
ovipositor Watch it closely, and as soon as
it has inserted the oVipositor ompletely into
the limb, take hold of the insect and gently
but quickly draw it forward, and apply the
point of the ovipositor to the palm of the hand, ,
when you will see two eggs elected into your
hand in quick succession. They deposit two
eggs at each insertion of the ovipositor, and
generally from five to ten pairs in each place
on the limb. She then goes TO other places
on the same limb ard repeats the operation,
till she has laid about four hundred eggs The
eggs are white, or pearl color, about the
twelfth of an inch long, and about one sixth
as thick as they are long. 1t is this operation
that destroys the small limbs, the excavation
cutting off the sap vessels. The time of de-
posting the eggs continues till about the 10th
of June, when they cease. All kinds of trees
and shrubs are selected by them for their de-
posits, except pines or other turpentine trees.
They do not seem to select the hardest nor
the spftest wood, but that which is about the
size of their bodies or less, seems to be chosen;
the operation requiring them to grasp the sides