The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-16
MONDAY e vENING. JUNE 16. 1902.

the larval and pupal states, is its proni-
nent, lobsterlike front legs, with which II
digs its way into the ground. Soon after
the larva is free 1t 1ooses its hold on the
twig and drops to the ground. After reach
ing the ground the first impulse of the
young larva is to get beneath the surface,
as il it was anxious to seek its hermitage
beneath the turf. During its long under
ground life it grows many times its length.
1t lives within cell of compact earth,
which is usually formed SO that one or two
fine roots of food plant run through. the
roof walls in easy access OF the insects
beak. 1t may thus obtain nourishment by
thrusting it's beak into the tissue and
sucking the sap.
The pupa resembles the larva in it's ad-
vanced stages, but the rudimentary wings
have become prominent, while the front
legs are much developed and are we'll
fitted for digging. observations have
shown that the usual depth is from twelve
to eighteen inches below the sod although
there are records of pupae coming up from
the bottom Of cellar and through cinders
five feet thick. case is reported where
one was found ten feet below the surface.
The Adult Cicada.
When ready to abandon the. subter-
ranean life the pupa digs upward toward
the surface Of the ground. The pupa,
soft bodied and creamy white in color. In
the course of a few hours it finds suita-
BILE support upon which it can climb and
to which it can securely cling The skin
hardens rapidly and in a short time the
adult escapes, leaving behind the empty
pupa skin. The adult cicada is about
three inches from tip to tip of the wings,
and the body is about an inch in length
Under some circumstances, not yet we'll
understood, the pupa build chimneylikes
huts on the surface of the ground, just
before abandoning subterranean life
These huts may open at the top or be
closed at the top and open at the sides.
The hut is in reality a continuation above
ground of the channel in the earth made
by the pupa. In some cases large num-
ber will be built and in others only a few.
They are built on both high and low
ground, although they. more frequently
appear on swampy ground Whether the
cicada comes up through an improv1sed
chimney or through an ordinary hole in
the ground, when he does arrive he is an
active. noisy creature. He flies about
during the day and makes the woods ring
with his shrill song.
The Male the Musician.
The so-called song of the cicada is pro-
duced by the male only. Each male has
two song producing instruments, one on
domen, underneath and concealed by the
wings. They are quite complex, but each
consists principally of corrugated. ear
like drum, which, controlled by a power
full muscle, may be made to yibrate rapid
ly. The song is usually produced in
unison and is shrillest in the heat OF the
day. The warmer the sun the louder the
song becomes. It Is unusual for the
cicada to sing at night, but instances have
been recorded where the song has sud
denly broken out long before daylight,
only to last few minutes.
While the males are sounding their ear
splitting choruses the females are doing
damage by depositing eggs on the twigs Of
trees. This damage, as previously stated,
is principally to young trees. Many in
stances have occurred where young or
chards of plum and cherry trees have been
badly broken as the results of the punc-
lures of the female cicadas. Another case
is cited where the oieadas appeared in
large numbers in young vineyard. An
examination showed that the vines were
badly broken and the new growth was
wilted. The result was that the vine
yard produced little or no fruit that year.
Another injury that results from the
puncture of the ctcada, arises from the
old wounds that afford lodgment for other
insects, especially the woody aphis. This
secondary injury may result in serious
damage to the tree. -.- -.. =
Destructive Tendency Exaggerated.
| AS has been seen, the real injury re-
sulting from the periodical visits OF the
seventeen-year locust is not so great as
is the general belief. The tendency, in the
future will be for less and less injury.
Two or three natural causes are operat-
ing to bring this about. In the first place.
the periodical cicades are not migratory.
They fly only short distances, and one
generation after another lives in almost
identically the same place. Entomo1o
gists hold to the supposition that original.
ly the cicada was uniformly distributed in
the eastern part Of the United States.
Gradually, by the breaking UP OF the for
ests for cultivation and the arrival Of a
few individuals a trife earlier or later
than the general swarm, the tendency was
to divide them into broods. The con-
tinuance of this subdivision, together
with the extermina tion by the plough, Will
in time tend to make the species extinct.