New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-16
L0CUSTS HERE ALREADY
Seventeen-Yea CiCada Makes
Temperance on Schedule.
FOUND NEAR NEW BRIGHTON
New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Due To Be Worst Infested
of States Hereabouts.

The seventeen-year locust or cicada. mas
been discovered in Staten Island a shorf
distance from New Brighton. according 10
entomologists of the American Museum OF
Natural History. Evidences Of the locusts
presence so near New York were found on
Saturday. when they were dug zip IN clover
Valley. The insects are expected 10 emerge
from the grub stage somewhere near June
15 and for two or three weeks Will swarm
over the country from as far south as VII
cinia and as far west as Ohio.
Raymond l.. Ditmars. curator Of the Zoo
logical Gardens in Bronx Park. who has
kept a close watch on the cicade, said also
that evidences Of their presence had been
discovered in Nyack. and he expected that
by the last week in May or the first week
in June the locusts in Virginia would begin
10 swarm over that state. 70 be followed
few days later by their presence In TINS ana
neighboring states.
According 10 entomologists Of the mu-
scum. New Jersey and Pennsylvania VIII
be visited TO a greater extent by the IN
sects than some other portions or thls part
Of the country. At Plainheld. \. j. there
are millions Of cicade still In the gruo
stage. In this locality there will be more
than In other parts of New Jersey. II was
said that maps had been prepared by ento-
mologists in that state showing just where
the largest colonies would be found.
In the opinion Of the museum authorities,
Manhattan Island will be visited by the
cicade. but foliage will not be injured. be-
cause the cicade do not feed on ". IN
stead. they deposit their Larvae In the Young
sprigs of the trees. which are pierced by
them in an effort TO secure places for the
young 10 hatch. Later the insects drop 10
the ground. and for seventeen years remain
in tho grub stage.
In view of the interest which Will he
awakened by the presence Of the swarms or
cicade, the museum has on exhibit now
number Of the insects in different stages or
their existence Sprigs in which can he
seen the deposited larve, clumps of earth
in which the cicada can be seen in the grub
stage and others In which they nave
emerged from that stage and are equipped
with wings for their flight as winged in
sects for three or four weeks. The cicada
in its fully developed stage is brick red
the wings being transparent as those Of q
dragon fy, but bordered also with red.
Last fall a warning was sent throughout
New Jersey by the state entomologist. John
=. Smith that caution should be exercised
in pruning trees, as trees would need all
their vitality in view Of the coming cicada
invasion. Mr.. Smith also advised against
setting ont young trees. saying there was no
way to prevent the attack on the branches
and twiss
In the opinion of DIR. SoUthvick. ento-
mologist Of the Park Department. the trees
in Central Park and other parks Of the city
will not suffer to any extent by the cicade.
According To the belief Of Mr. Dtmars'
Manhattan Island should escape almost en-
tirely. but he believes Staten Island and
New Jersey will receive the brunt Of the
invasion in this part of the country.