The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-07-05
Tne Cieada,

In answer to inquiries that have been
made about the periodical cicada, usually
called the se~yenteen-year locust, which has
been announced to appear this year through
quite a large extent Of country, it may be
said there are two races of these insects,
the thirteen-year and the seventeen-year
race. Only the male insects have the Or
gans Of sound perfectly developed. These
may be described as q musical apparatus
on the under side of the abdomen. The
existence Of the thirteen-year broods was
announced by Prof. Riley in 1868 in addi-
ton to the se-venteen-year broeds, one Of
which has been recorded ever since the
earlier part of the seventeenth century.
There are two distinct forms in both
races-a large one and a small ene-the
former being the most numerous. The
fact that seventeen and thirteen years are
respectively required for the underground
development of this insect, according to the
race, is fully established, one of the first
septendecim broods recorded having been
observed every seventeen years since 1715.
There are no differences observable in the
insects constituting the different broods
other than the difference in time required
fer underground development. It is said
the larya has been found twenty feet below
the surface OF the ground.
as the time approaches for the issuing
of the pupa it gradually rises nearer and
nearer the surface, and for a year or two
may be found within a foot or two of the
top of the soil. Records show that their
numbers have decreased, owing probably
to the clearing OF the land. the building of
towns and cities and the increased numbers
of domestic animals in the fields and
woods.
paonr+e Of ;n=,rzae oa,ead T,v 4ba s+;no as
the locust have been made. but it is not
probable that the ovipositor is used for
singing human flesh. As stated by the
Government entomologist in his report for
1885, the cicada, both of the seventeen
and thirteen year races is known to occur
in all the States east of the plains, except
ing the northern portion of New England,
Northern Michigan and the whole of Min
nesota.
The most remarkable thing about this
species is the long time required for its
maturity. The female deposits her eggs in
the twigs Of trees, where the larvse hatch
in about six weeks, when they drop to the
ground and bury themselves, and here they
remain until the seventeenth or thirteenth
year following. There are so many dis
tinct broods of this species that 'iocust
year. occurs almost annually 10 some por-
ton Of the United States.
OF the dog-day harvest fly, cseada ti5icea,
Prof. Comstock says: .aThe shrill cry of
this species, which is the most prominent
of the various insect sounds heard during
the latter part Of Summer. has brought its
author into prominent notice. This insect
varies both in size and color. II common
ly measures two inches 10 the tip of the
closed wings; ii is black and green, and
more or less powered with white beneath.
Its transformations are similar to those Of
the seventeen and thirteen year broods. ex-
cept that It requires only two years for its
development. It differs also in seldom, il
ever, occurring in sufficient numbers TO be
Of economic Importance, but a brood of it
occurs each year. It is distributed from
New York 20 Rio Janeiro.