The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-02-09
SEVENTEEN YEARS.
Since Locusts We're Here, so Due
Next June.


Perhaps no one here has kept track of
it, but it is said that next summer will
be the time for the appearance of the
seventeen-year locusts. An interesting
bug story is told in Dubuque paper,
which sends forth the announcement
that the locusts will be with us next
June. The paper says:
According to local scientists, Du-
buque and vicinity will be visited by
Seventeen year locusts" during the
first part of Jul this year, and tNey
VIII tarry here for about a month.
This will be the first visit of the winged
pests to this vicinity since June, 1888,
when they were here in goodly sized
numbers, devastating hundreds of trees
in and around the city, They are due
to arrive next June, as they make their
appearance every seventeen years.
They will commence to make their
appearance as soon as the sun has fairly
set, and the bulk of them will have
emerged from the ground by 8 o'clock
in the evening. The unanimity with
which all those within certain radius
OF certain tree crawl in Decline to
the trunk of that tree is interesting.
To see these locusts in such vast
Numbers swarming out of their
subterranean hole, crawling over the
ground and converging alta certain
point and then in a steady continuous
stream clambering up the trunk of a
tree and crawling along the branches
in every direction is sight not soon to
be forgotten, and 6, affords a rare
opportunity of witnessing the natural
instinct of insect life. The sight is
most satisfactory witnessed where
there is an isolated or solitary tree.
| After crawling out to the ends of the
branches they fasten themselves to the
little twigs and leaves, and in about an
hour after getting settled the shell
of the skin peels off and the insect
comes forth full tledged locust of a
light color, which becomes black as
soon as the sun Ehas shown on it for a
few minutes.
In 1883 there was large part Of the
country around Dubuque covered with
heavy timber, but ssince then great
changes have been made and much O
the wooded land is now denuded of it.
trees. But the ground beneath where
the trees formerly stood is now full o
the locusts, which will emerge at the
proper timeNand seek for other trees az
soon as they are able to do so.
| Naturally thousands of these locusts
will make their waytsinto the city anc
the shade trees will bel covered will
them, and their call of phar-r-r-roah viii
be heard all day long for about fou
weeks, as they disappear about tina
time after their appearance as suddenl,
as they came upon the scene. However
they will leave their trademarks upol
all the trees they visit, as, wherever al
egg is laid on twig or branch it will
die and fall to the ground. This seems
queer, but it is thought that they stins
the twig or branch in such name
that causes it to wither up and drop t,
the ground. This also appears to be il
the program, as the eggs hatch out an,
the hub or worm passes off into tn,
ground for its long wait of seventeen
years before it can again come fort
and devastate the trees.
This specie Of the locust is the small
est in the United States, as it onl
appears in few places. A few count
les in the southwestern part of Wiscor
sin and also along the river on the Ill
inois are some Of the few places beside
this community which have in an
quantities. The region (which the
inhabit around here is bounded by tn
Cedar river on the west, the Mississippi
on the east, as far north as Clayto
county, and as far south as the bound
airy line of Muscatine county.