Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-11-04
17-YEAR LOCUSTS COMING.
Farmers Urged to Protect the In
sect-Eatins Birds.


To warn farmers and orchardists
against the resurrection of the seven
teen-year locust, or periodical cicada
that will occur in certain areas of this
country next spring, call for preserv-
ing the wild birds that destroy this pest
is today being issued from the head
quarters of the National Association of
Audubon societies in this city, says the
New York Post.
Two giant broods of these remark
able insects, that come to ravage or
chard vegetation only after incubation
intervals of thirteen and seventeen
years, are scheduled by scientists as
due to descend upon this continent
within the next six months. Only the
birds that can be counted upon to eat
up by thousands the units in this
swarming locust plague will avail to
avert serious losses in the coming sea-
son, it is declared.
English sparrows, robins, wood
peckers, orioles, scarlet tanagers, cue
koos, goldfnches, and nuthatches have
rendered the greatest service in devour-
ing these periodical cicada on their pre-
vious raids of the country, according to
the records of the government biologi-
cal survey, that have been searched by
the Audubon workers.
Eating the soft bodies of the locust
pests or their wings and heads as well,
catbirds, fiickers, towhees, gnatcatch-
ers, martins, peewees, thrushes, vireos,
chickadees, and fycatchers are among
their other destroyers. Only two
species of all the birds examined at
Washington have been found not to feed
upon these destructive insects.
To protect these birds and all other
insect eaters through the coming months
is declared to be an emergency measure
that must be seized upon by the farm
ers.
Shielded in tiny shells, the periodical
cicada are today preparing to burst
| forth in countless multitudes over the
fields of both North and South, the
chronological experts declare. I'm
numbered hosts of these weird insects
will next summer slit young trees and
deposit within their tender sprouts the
eggs that will bring forth the species
seventeen years hence. Apple, peach,
and pear orchards and vineyards will
feel their destructive power, the govern
ment authorities admit, unless an abund-
ant force of the wild birds is preserved
to lead the fight.
Comprehensive state laws for the
protection of the insect-eating birds
and Widespread efforts to shelter and
feed them through the storms of next
winter are advocated in this emergency
/ by the National Association of Audu-
bon societies, which has for years urged
the people of AMERICA to consider such
problems from the economic standpoint.
The fear Of the locust plague that
is now spreading over the agricultural
sections only points the moral of our
general campaign" said William
butcher, president Of the association.
For years we have been working ia
arouse the country to the danger of the
destruction Of the insect-eating birds,
that will be invaluable in this particular
case, as they are in every case of
insect pests Since 1854, when these
so-called seventeen-year locusts de-
scended upon the Pilgrim fathers at
Plymouth, the agricultural prosperity
of the country has been constantly
menaced by insect encroachments that
can be met only by the birds that ma
ture has provided as checks, not as tar
gets for pot hunters"