The Washington times., 1902-05-28
SWARMS OF LOCUSTS
AGAIN IN EVIDENCE

Again. in 1899, the seventeen-year brood
appeared in Western New York, and in
Southwestern Pennsylvania. In 1900. en-
tire Western Pennsylvania was overrun
with "locusts" of the sevcntcen-year
variety. and in 1901 the insects ap-
peared down in Southwestern Virginia.
During the present year the States Of
Pennsylvania, Maryland. Ohio, Indiana,
and Kentucky are visited by the insects.
Treatise CT Cicada.
Charles L. Marlatt. NJ. S. first assistant
entomoloeist of the Agricultural depart
ment, has prepared n pamphlet dealing
broadly with the cicada. or these in
sects he has this to say, in part:
Living in absolute solitude. apart
from its fellows. the young larva Of the
cioada lies in its moist. earthen cham
Der. and rarely ever changes its posi-
tion. except as the necessities of feed
ing on roots forces movement in any
direction. In this manner it passes the
seventeen or thirteen years of its
hypogeal existence in slow growth and
preparation for the few weeks only OF
its enjoyment of the society of its fell
lows and the warm sunshine of summer.
During this brief period Of aerial life ii
attends actively 20 the needs Of con-
tinuing its species. and rarely takes
wing and seldom food For five weeks
the male sings his song of love and
courtship. and the female busos herself
FOR n little longer period placing the
eggs which are to produce a subsequent
generation, thirteen or seventeen years
later. AT the end Of this ileeting cX-
istence the cicada falls to the ground
and dies. often within few yards of
the Point from which It issued
Dr. A. E Andrews. professor at
Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore,
and 4 member of the Naturalists Club
of that city. describes the exit OF the
locust" into the world. after The
seventeen or thir;cen-year Incubation
period DR.. Andrews has recently writ
ten TO the Agricultural Department on
the subject. He says:
How Cicada Build Homes.
1.-The cicada appears TO make his hole
in, the earth by arching his back and
pushing aside the dirt. He forms
nice. round chamber, with smooth walls.
and to do this he must be his own hod
carrier and WELD his own spade. Slip
ming down in the mud whence he rose.
he works away. and then climbs back
toward the surface again, so as TO re-
peat the process and make the hole
larger.
Near Relay found one hill the cap
of which was entirely incrusted with
these towers or chimneys. On another,
near by, they were so low as to be al
most imperceptible. A surface cutting
made with trowel. however. showed
the ground to be rddlcd with the holes.
When you approach one of these towers
the cicada drops quickly down his bur-
row and stays until you are gone.
Good for Animal Food.
Some of the other animals are al
ready finding the cicada n very good
thing as an addition to their bills of
fare. have seen many with the viscera
eaten away. and some of these continue
TO live for while A squirrel has been
seen to take one up a tree. eat out all
the soft parts and throw the rest away.
As he dropped it the wings worked in an
effort TO fly.
The cicada has a false reputation for
destructive gluttony. He probably comes
by 1t because he is called locust and
looks like bad character. AS matter
OF fact. he might as well be called the
seventeen-year bed bug. He is as much
like bed bug as locust and has no
more power to gobble up trees and
crops. AS matter Of fact, 1t is not cer
tain that he eats at all. In most cases II
is the fact that he doesn't