The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-05-06
Farm Miscellany.
LARGE OUTBREAK OF LoCUsTs DUE THIS
YEAR.


Mr.. franklin Sherman, Jr., the
State Entomologist, gives the follow
ing information, which will be of in
terest, especially TO people in the
western portion of the State:
This year will be a notable one so
far as the insect record is concerned,
for a large outbreak of the 17-year
"Locust" is due to take place in the
western part of the State. Last year
they appeared in considerable force
in parts of Ashe, Allegheny, Surry
and Wilkes, but those belonged TO a
separate and less important brood.
This year If the available records
are to be relied upon, the outbreak
will be general from Greensboro and
Charlotte TO the Tennessee line.
We anticipate many serious re-
ports of great ravages by these in
scots, and we have no doubt that
papers will give account of serious
"stings" inflicted by them, etc ETC.,
for these are as regular as the out
breaks themselves. We will here
give a brief outline of the insects
life, and explain a few points regard
ing Ii that are not generally known.
The insects occur regularly every
seventeen years, for it takes that
time for the young insect TO reach
maturity after Matching from the
egg. There is a brood in which ma
turity is reached in thirteen years,
but the brood that comes this year
is of the regular seventeen-year a
So far as we know this is the longest
duration of life found among insects.
In 1885 the female "loousts" slit open
many tender twigs, and in the Sits
the eggs were laid. The young in
scots soon Matched and fell 80 the
ground, burrowed beneath the sur
face and attached themselves TO sue
culent roots. Here they have been
living and slowly growing eve since,
and they will emerge from the earth
this summer, probably appearing as
early as the third week in May.
Although this insect is almost uni,
versally called the 'locust," this is
not the proper name, for the true
loousts of the time of Pharoah we're
grasshoppers much like those which
do such great damage in the States
between the Rocky Mountains and
the Mississippi River. The true
name for this 17-year insect is the
periodical Cicada" (Ci-ca-da). A
species very closely related to it is
known as the "Harvest Fly" "Dry
Fly" or "July Fly" in various Sec
tions, and this is more or less abund
ant every year. This common species
is dark greenish in color, while the
Periodical Cicada is orange -oolored
and black.
In reality. the damage done by the
Periodical Cicada is probably greater
during the years when we do not see
it than when it appears before US.
While it is developing underground
it is sucking up the sap from some
plant, but when it energies TO the
open air it takes very little, if any,
food, and it is a question whether
they ever take any food whatever
after emerging. Their damage at
this time consists in Sitting the
twigs of trees, and it is only the
~-~-W-- &I.& l. 4hs- TG Al, 49,
ment is doubted, it can be easily veri.
fed by an examination of the insects
when they appear. On the under
side, at the hind end of the body of
the female, a spear-like organ will
be found fitted into a groove in the
body. This is the instrument with
which she Sits the twigs, and it will
not be found in male insects.
But what the males lack in damage
TO trees they make good by the shrill
noises which they infiict upon our
ears, for it is only the males that
eing. A rhyme says:
"Happy T Cioadas' lives,
Since they all have v~oiceless wives"
And an examination will as least
prove the last assertion to be true.
On the under side of the body, just
behind the last (third) pair of legs,
the males have two roundish flaps,
one on each side. Beneath each of
these flaps is a membrane which is
finely ridged. By rapidly vibrating
the membranes they are caused TO
rub against the surface of the flaps,