Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-01
wATER.BUGs AND LooUsTs.
The One Dangerous. the Other Per-
fectly Harmless,

From ne BaHiBiors Sun.
Mr.. B. Hopkins, No. 1871 Aisquith street.
has discovered in his garden several large
bugs. fhay arr the largest of the water
bugs il This section, tae "Belostoma
Grisea, > commonly called the gigantic
water-bug, now almost every day mista-
ken for the advance guard of the army Of
seYenteen-year locusts, which are due in
about a month. This large water-bug is
commonly found in creeks and pools.
where it hides under large stones and
between the leaves OF aquatic plants, 1t
is quite rapacious, living entirely on the
blood of fish, frogs and aquatic insects.
BY means Of its very long arms it grasps
its prey, plunging its strong beak into the
flesh. at the same time squirting into the
wound few drops Of its violent poison.
soon killing its victim. This poison is
very likely injected into the wound to
produce more rapid flow of blood. Of
which this insect is so fond. II it bites a
man. which il is very liable to do, it will
produce very painful wound. and the
pain will continue for days. The injured
part commences to swell at once, violent
headaches ensue, and lameness of bitten
limbs have followed. Application of
liquor ammonia to the wounds gives most
relief. Before the use of the electric
light these bugs were found once I'm
awhile on the streets Of Baltimore, but
only during or after heavy rain.stOrm.
Since the introduction Of the electric
light they are frequently attracted toit in
large numbers.
The seventeen-year lOcusts, for which
this Water-bug has been mistaken. will
commence to come out Of the ground in
about month, although some few NAV
put in an appearance somewhat sooner.
A locust, though il has a beak like the
water-bug, cannot bite with il. as tits too
soft and flexible to penetrate the human
skin. Neither can lOcusts inhict a sting:
they are harmless as far as biting or
singing Is concerned. The reason so
many persons are reported as killed hy
locusts IN locust years is probably because
they are stung by large digger wasps.
which stop their burrows with dead To-
Gusts. This wasp, the "StiZ2us Grandis."
searches for lOCusts, stings them, and
flies with them towards its burrows, pre-
pared beforehand for their reception. The
locust being about az heavy as the wasp,
the latter has a burden, and conseQuentiy
its Night is irregular and awkward, So
much SO that frequently the two fall 60
lhe GROUND or on people passing. The
sting OF The wasp frequently produces
death 10 TWO hours. The damage done by
the locust is confined entirely 10 vegeta-
bic life, and is not as great by any means
as has been claimed; and as rule. ir-
deed, the year following locust year is
good fruit year, because the summer
pruning done by the l0custs ls an advan.
tage 20 the trees. The loeusts. lavipr
their eggs M young branches up TO an
inch m diameter, kill the portion above
their eggs and produce I'm certain locan.
ties a rather severe pruning. Almost an
kinds Of trees share alike In this pruning.
ana only Young pine trees escape 90 any
great extent LOcusts can be made use.
iui by keeping fowls and chickens enough
% deyour them. Young orchards can be-
protect by simply keeping large mum.
bers of fowls in them. These Will eat up
the locusts as soon as they come out Of
the ground, while they are yet ia help.
less condition. The locusts that come
out this season were hatchod from eggs
laid Dog 1863. Inc eggs were matched i'm
the hran hes that same ycar. The larvn
cfawled down the tree and entered the
kround. following the larger roots TO their
very ends, where they attached them
selves " The fine tibres to remain until
l tnls time. Now they are making their
way slowly towards the surface in the