Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-06-25
TuE DEVASTATING LoC,r.

1t has been stated with some show ol
authority In the matter that the locusts are
doing no harm, and are not 10 do any.
This has disarmCd all alarm on the sub
iect and the musical visitors have only
been regarded curiously and their dull
monotonous hummug borne with careless
patience. But the season OF their visit has
advanced but short space when 1t is
found that the periodical visitors are a
real and dangerous pest and the note Of
alarm cannot be sounded too soon in or
der that the marauding invader may be met
with whatever defense that may b. found
most effective for the purpose Itisiound
that the female locust has begun oyipos.
iting, and the peculiar manner Of doing so
is what causes the dcsrucuyeu,ss for
which the locust is to be faured.
The female begins on the branches Of
the ,rees apple ounce or any kind of
tree, and puncturcs the bark, then splits it
lengthwise from one end 70 the other
making incisions at intervals to the very
heart of the branch This, as will be seen
at once, will be destruction to the fruit
trees. Mr.. c. +. Seys, living near this
city, has given the subject attention, and
at request Of the GLoBE-REruBMc says:
While making slight Investigation Of th,
damage being done 10 the fruit trees by the
"seventeen- year locusts, this afternoon. | bgt
the fortune to observe the whole procedure OF
puncturng, and deposting the hrva, and
having in my mind vour kind request iC
take notes" | will, in as few words as pos
sible, state what | saw.
| First, then, find that the male Cui female
are dstnguishable in that the male is some
what the larger; that on the under side OF
the body he has four yeil.w bands or ridges,
while the female has but three; the male al 20
has under each wing and about the center OF
the body a small ash-colOrei drum, the yhra.
| tion of which causes the noise heard.
| This drum" appears to be absent in the
female, or at least | could not see it on any
caught. The most important point o. differ
| euce, however, is the "busiuess end in tn.
female, which consists OF an awl-shiped tub
about one-hslf inch long and AS thick as al
ordinary sewing needle. This she throw
| out from her body at distance OF oue-iUurt!
inch from the tail end Ia puuCmring, sh
raises her body by means OF the tour legs
this brings the punch into position, the eul
of which comes against the bark; then, b,
an apparent pushing backward Of the body b,
the four legs il enters the bark and. by
backward aud forward motion Of body, i
finally inserted its iull length. Tneu pump
ing motion OF the abdomen was cImmtnrh
and kept up, together with an occasional par
tial withdrawal and reInscrtOn Of tube, uuti
the operation was complete. when the tub
was withdrawn and carried up into the body
and Il new position taken TO repeat the opera
ton. / was unfortunately, unable t. tint
the operation in full, but from the time ia
tube was placed upon the bark until wa
obliged TO quit my observation was exact
thirty minutes, how much more time Wa
taken cannot say On close examination q
the holes made by the means al my dIsposa
am led to believe that the end OF tube O
punch has a drill or rotary mo ion, for ,her
appears to be fine substance, ike sAw-dus
in the cavity made, where the lava OF egg
are deposited. These cavities have = slal
inward and downward toward the center
branch, and appears to kill it, and by rea7o
|, | OF loss of frmuess Of the wood he branC
tails over and hangs in a perpendicular pos
u ton and soon dies and wiDhers. This brio,
e the open end of cavity downward. nov
whether the eggs to certain extent maui
and drop from the cavities in which they Al