Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-07-04

The 17-Year Locus!s.

Baltimore has reported the appear
ance in the public parks there of the
17-year locust, for which the natural
lists and others have been on the look
out this month. and it is expected that
they will be reported within few
days or weeks from other parts of the
country. What the ravages of the
pests this year will be there is no way
to tell but as almost every year is .
17-year locust period in some part of
the country, there is no doubt that the
insects will be seen in other regions
than Maryland before the season is
much advanced.
There are several species of the /
cicada in this country, and they are /
known as locusts and also as harvest
flies. The 17-year locust is the /
Cicada septemdicem, and it is found /
in all parts of the country to the east
ward of the great plains. There are
two races, one of them essentially
northern in it's distribution, and the
other southern. which differs from its
northern brethren in that its periods
are 10 years. OF each specie there
are several broods, so that the supply
is never exhausted in any season OF
appearance.
The cicada deposits its eggs in the
outer twigs of trees, in grooves cut by
the ovipositor In about six weeks
they hatch, and the young almost i'm
mediately after liberation leap from
( the boughs and burrow into the
ground, in which the major part of
: their life is spent. The young live
in the earth until near the expiration
| of the period of II years, burrowing to
the depth of 20 feet in some instances
The locusts in this part of their career
live on the roots of the trees, and on
other plants, and at the same time ex-
tract some of their nourishment from
the soil through certain hollow hairs
at the tip Of the proboscis. To ex-
tract the sap from the roots of the
trees they are equipped with sharp,
long beaks. During the period of
their life underground the larvae shed
their skins many times. At the ex-
piration of the term they tunnel up
ward. and. issuing from the ground
by thousands. climb the nearest tree.
shed their skin for the last time and
appear as perfect insects. Creamy
white in color at first, they turn rap
idly to a dark shade on exposure to
the air, and their development is re-
markedly fast The ascent of the
cicada takes place about the end of
May. earlier or later, according to the
local conditions, and the ascent into
the trees is made between sunset and
midnight.
The superstitious believe that the
locusts bear a prophecy. The 17-year
broods have a well-defined w on their
backs. and an old superstition is that
this presages the coming of war.
II is supposed that the brood that
has appeared in Baltimore is the fore
runner of other broods, which will
probably appear late in July and last
through August and into September.
In case these broods are very numer-
! Gus, the shrubbery and small trees
will show the effects in rapid wither-
ing Of the smaller branches from the
tips inward, in some cases resulting
in the death of the tree. In some
, districts OF this state in past years
, the damage from 17-year locusts has
been considerable, notably in the case
of a swarm which covered the central
part of the state in the early sos.
This swarm required in different
localities for several years.
OF natural enemies the cicada has
plenty. In spite of its predominance
of shell structure over flesh, a number
| .
. Several varities of common birds pur-
, sue it with avidity, but by no means
, invariably with success, for the I'M
gainly-looking insect flies swiftly and
+ is an expert dodger. Squirrels pick
, the cicada off the branches OF the
trees where 1t perches while singing
its hot-weather song. In the South
its most formidable antagonist is the
great bald hornet which stings it to
, death and Tugs it off home as a
r reserve for a rainy day. The cicada's
! only protection is its swiftness OF
, flight and the difficulty of distinguish
ing it from the limb on which it rests
? It's noise is little guide to the pursuer
: as it is very difficult to locate.
, Il When entomologists have nothing
else to quarrel over they can find
. material for discussion in the cicada
family. Science has not yet de-
. termined the periodical appearance OF
. the so-called 17-year locust, some
! authorities holding that the appear
: ance is to some extent fortuitous, oc
o curing sometimes at the expiration
: of 10 or Is or II years, while the other
school holds that the 13-year variety
Is distinct. The other point of dis
I pute pertains to the noise-producing
y processes of the creature. Whether
/ the locust rubs it's proboscis against
! its corrugated breastplate or simply
}. plays castanets with its legs is still
o a moot question. 1t is difficult to
g persuade a locust to sing his song
4 when held between the thumb and
O forefinger, and even when he does
;. let out an occasional protesting buzz
I his musical method is not apparent to