The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-12
EVERYBODY WATCH
OUT FOR LOCUSTS!
This Is Their Year, and
They Are Surely
Coming.
Especial to The Times Dispatch

Especial TO The Times Dispat chi
Washington. j. c., March 1i.---Look
out for tho locusts. is the watchword
| of Dr. z. 1. MarIatt OF the Department
of Agriculture. sounded here, and
said:
Two important broods Of the period
ical cicada will appear this year One
Of these belongs to the seventeen-ycu,
race. and extends from Now York
southwark into North Carolina in gen.
eral lying east Of tho Allegheny Noun
tains. The other is one Of tho largest
broods Of tho Southern. or thirteen
year. race, and covers the lower half OF
tho mississippi valley. Both Of those
hroods have been worry well studied III
past years and their distribution has
been satisfactorily and in the main
probably accurately determined. The
approaching reappearNnce. however.
OF these broods Of tho clceda is al
ready leading to inquiries, and this cir
cular is issued to meet such inquiries,
and also for the purpose OF securing
reports of occurrence to add to the
present knowledge of the distribution
of these broods.
rhc brood in the main occupies terri
tory immediately east OF brood T, a
scattering brood appearing IN 1910.
It's exact range is shown on 4 map III
many cases we have numerous records
Tor individual counties, but these arc
represented on the map by u single dot
This is ono OF the best recorded broods,
since It's almost exclusively eastern
range brings 1t into the Immediate vi
clnity OF the larger towns and moro
populated districts of the Atlantic sea
board. II has been reported in Connec-
ticut regularly every seventeen wears
since 1874. and in New Jersey since
l7To, and almost equally long records
OF j. in other states have been made
At Its last appearance IN 1891 it wa.
carefully studied TO determine distri-
putlon-for New Jersey. by DR.. John b
smith; for New York, by DIR. a. j. Lin
ter, and for tho other States covered by
us range by this bureau. and with tho
ala Of the state entomologists and locul
observers. Some or the Southern rec
ord5 obtained in 1884 arc doubtful, and
th,s applies especially to localities in
North Carolina. because OF the appear
ance tho same year OF brood XIX. Of
the thirteen-year race, which. in North
Carolina, may touch or overlap this
seventeen year brood. 1t is. therefore,
very desirable that all Observers In
SCUM carolina report occurrences this
year of tho periodical cicada TO clear
up these doubtful records.
AS already Indicated this ia one OF
me largest of the thirteen year broods.
ulviuIins this honor with brood XIX.
srood mill, appearing this year oc-
cuPies the Mississippi Valley, from
Northern Missouri and Southern IIli-
nois TO Louisiana. covering particularly
inc states bordering on the Mississippi
Rivar. It's distribution is indicated on
q map by black dots, represcnting
counties merely, but the abundance OF
Tue distrioutton OF the insect Is indi-
Gated by the size of tho dots. the small
dots indicating scattering or occasionnl
colonies, and the large dots abundant
ana general occurrence OF the insect.
ms brood was given very careful
STUDY by The writer in 1898, and seyerai
Thousand replies were received in re
Spouse 10 circulars distributed through.
out the region where this brood wa:
supposed TO occur. and also covering
nuch wider surrounding region Local
Investigations were undertaken at this
time by the offlcial cntomologists OF Inc
several States, notably, Forbes chi.
ncis), Garman (Kentucky) and Stod
man (MissourD. These State reDorts
cohhrmed and supplemented the records
OBTAINED by this bureau, and are the
oasis Of tho records given and Of the
map.
The periodical cicada Is SO vel,
known that general account Of Il,
IN this place is Unnecessary. When II
appears in great numbers it naturally
causes considerable alarm and arouses
Tears Tor the safety OF the shade trees
and orchards The actual damage.
however, is usually slight. except IN
the case OF newly planted orchards. and
even mere by vigorous pruning back
after the cicada has disappeared, much
OF the injury caused by the egg pune
lures can he obviatcd.
Ordinary repcllant substances. s,,oh
as kerosene emulsion or carboIic acid
solutions seem to have very little effect
IN preventing the opposition OF these
insects Some more recent experience.
however, indicates that the tree thor
ouShly sprayed with Bordeaux mixtura
or lime wash is apt to be avoided by
the cicada. especially If there are other
trees or woods In the neighborhood on
Whlch they can oviposit. The most re-
ilaple means Of protecting nurseries
and young orchards is by coll ecting the
insects In bags or umbrellas from the
trees tn early morning or late evening,
when they are somewhat torpid. Such
COLLECTIONS should BIO undertaken at the
hrst appearance Of the cicada and re-
peated each day
| TICK E.T-0E-I Z,