The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-06-19
The Locust Year History of the Locust
The Present Visitation.

In answer to many inquiries in reference
to the present visitation of locusts---u
visitation that promises TO exceed, in the
abundance of the insects, any for the past
century--we have condensed, from various
authorities, tho following facts Many
have supposed that the insects with which
the woods and fields Of the country, the
trees and gardens of the city are so rapidly
! filling, were the cicatid or American hsr-
vesLlly. This, however, is misapprc-
hensi0n. 1t il the real locust that is now
upon us. Tile cicdtld subsists on the
leaves of trees and other vegetable sub
stances. They are furnished with hard
proboscis capable Of boring wood This
insect is common in some sections OF the
country, appearing annually.
Our present visitors are what are known
az the seventeen.year locusts, from the fact
that they make their appearance in certain
sections Of the United States, and probably
else where, every seventeenth year. The
seventeen,year locusts begin TO emerge
from tho ground about the latter end of
April but if the season be cold and back
ward, they sometimes do not begin TO
appear until about the middle of May, as
was the case this year. On their first
coming out of the ground, they arc in the
pnpa state, but the back soou bursts and
the perfect locust soon appears. They be-
grn to lay their eggs about the end of May
or in the second week i'll June, according
to the heat of the season. These eggs arc
deposited in close lines of 2 inches long,
in the tender twigs OF trees. AS soon az
the young attain their growth in the grub
state, they fall TO the ground, and make
their way two or three feet underneath the
surface, in order TO undergo their change
into the pupa form. Soon after attaining
their transformation. they are found in
great numbers over large districts of coun
try. They appear every seventeen years,
though. il is probable, according TO some
writer's, that the periods OF their return
vary, according to the heat of the climate
and other circumstances. 10 ia stated by
a writer that these insects have been known
TO make their appearaDce in fhiladelphip,
Boston aud other cities in great numbers,
penetrating from their subterranean resi-.
dence between bricks Of pavement. Not
withdrawing the usual idea, these seventeen
year loensts are seldom in any way injuri-
Ous to vegetation, except in the damage
done by tho female in depositing her eggs.
We distinctly remember the visitation OF
these insects in 1851 AT that time we re-
sided in Washington county, this State,
and frequenlly took occasion to 20 to the
country, for the purpose of observing their
habits. We have Eeen fields Of young
corn oats, and wheat, liiera ly alive with
them, the ground being completely covered
by them; and yet not corn'blade or spear
of wheat or oats were injured. In the
woods, however, it was different. The
tenderest leaves were nearly all eaten from
the trees, particularly on those trees upon
which tho leaves were slightly acidulated
The seventeen.year locusts are the favorte
food of various species Of animsls. In
mense numbers are destroyed by hogs be,
fero they emerge from the ground and
they are also, in their perfect state, eagerly
devOured by squirrels All onr old hunt
ers will call TO mind how abundant and
tat the squirrel- were in 1881. Most OF
the larger birds feed upon these locusts,
and the Northwestern tribes of Indians
consider them a raro delicacy when fried
The locust is never found ia tho pine
woods. They will neither light uron or
deposit their eggs in the limbs Of lilo pine
tree, The locusts commenced making
their appearauco in this part Of the State