The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-12-08
Audubon Society Says Seven
Year Locusts are Due to
Spread All Over Country
BIRDS TO KILL THE INSECTS

To warn the farmers and orchardists
against the resurrection of the "sev-
enteen-year locust" or 'EPeriodical Ci-
cada" that will occur in certain areas
of this country next spring, call for
preserving the wild birds that destroy
this pest is being issued from the
headquarters of the National Associa-
tion of Audubon societies.
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 set down 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 peck
ers, orioles, scarlet tanagers, cuckoos,
goldfnches and nuthatches have been
proved by the government biological
survey to have rendered the greatest
service in devouring these periodical
cicada on their last raids of the coun-
try according to the records that have
been searched by the Audubon work
ers. Eating the soft bodies Of the To-
Gust pests or their wings and heads as
well, cat birds, fickers, towhees, gnat-
eatchers, MARITIME, 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 farmers Of the land.
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. Uunum-
bered hosts of these weird insects will
next summer slit young trees and de-
post to blight their tender sprouts
the eggs that will bring forth the spe-
cies seventeen years hence, it is assur-
ed. Apple, peach and pear orchards
and vineyards will feel their destruc-
tive power, the government authorities
admit, unless an abundant force of the
wild birds is preserved to lead the
fight against the impending plague.
Comprehensive state laws for the pro-
lection of the insect-eating birds and
widespread efforts to shelter and feed
them through the storms of next win
ter are advocated in this emergency by
the National Association of Audubon
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
as now spreading over the agricultural
sections only points sharply the moral
OF our general campaign" said Will
lam butcher, president of the National
Association of Audubon societies. s'For
years we have been working to arouse
the country to the danger of the des-
truction of the insect.eating birds, that
will ne invaluable in this particular
case as they are in every case of insect
pests. Since 1884 when these so-called
televen-year locusts' descended upon
the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth, the
agricultural prosperity of this country
has been constantly menaced by insect
eneroachments that can be met only
by the birds that nature has provided
as checks, not as targets for Dot hunt
ers."