The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26
M. CICADA IS AT ALABAMA'S DOOR

of general twig pruning not especially injurious to forest trees, but more so to fruit trees, especially young orchards and nursery stock. Young orchards should not be plapked, especially in land close to a forest, the year preceding the visita- ton of the cicada.
 Like all insects the cicada passes through the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages. The principal difference from other lowly creatures is It's long life un- derground. There are many others that live nearly a year in the soil. and few, such as the common white grub, the larva of the May beetle, which re- main three years in the ground before emerging, but no other insect can equal the periodical cicada for subterranean longevity.
 The eggs are deposited in all kinds of trees and vines except evergreens. rhesa eggs are set well into the wood In two conVerging rows. The color Is pearly white and they measure one-twelfth of an inch in length. The period of incuba- ton is from six to eight weeks. When the larva Is fully matured the eggshell breaks and allows 1t to escape.
 The newly matched larva is an awkward looking fellow, about one-sixteenth of an inch long, and somewhat resembling a spider Dropping from the twig to the ground his first impulse Is to get be- meath the surface. He digs deep and makes himself a compact cell for his long sojourn. He constructs this cell so that two or three juicy roots pass through it., , and of these he partakes as his scanty appetite suggests during his lengthy re- treat. The usual depth of the cells Is 12 to IS inches below the sod, but in stances have been known of and 10 feet.
 The pupa resembles the larva In its advanced stages, but the parliamentary ,t..a. t., front legs are much better developed and better adapted for digging purposes.
 When ready to abandon it's living grave the pupas dig upward toward the surface of the ground. When it comes out on the surface It's body is sort and creamy white in color. In few hours 1t Is seized with desire to climb and straightway goes up the trunk of a tree, or the side of a fence or house. The skin hardens rapidly and color changes with like ceerity
 In a very little while the back of the pupae skin cracks and the adult cieada slowly pulls himself out fin all the glory of adult years. This act has been llkened by some irreverent person to the process followed by man in getting out of shirt slit up the back. The creature then moves off and leaves a little ghost-lilSe pupa crust elnging with its lifeless legs to the tree.
 One would suppose that having had such a long preface to his introduction into this world that the cicada was de- stined to a lengthy life, but such Is not the case. The creature enjoys it's winged existence only five or six weeks. The female lives a little longer than the male, but then he has the advantage and the satisfaction of having made all the noise while here While he has been humming his pretty song to please her, she has been busying herself laying eggs for the perpetuaton of the species.
 Such Is the interesting life history of the periodical cicada The same story applies to the tibecon tredecim as to the tlbecon septendecim, except that the former is of the thirteen year vintage, while the latter Is of the H-year denomi- nation.