The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-07-05
LOClJS7S
Of The Seventeen Year
Variety Are Here
Bot Students Of Entomology
Say They Are HARMLESS

Students of entomology say that
the 17.year locusts have reappeared
this summer, and that they began
showing themselves early in June. In
the thickly wooded tim er districts
they have been making the air vip-
rate with their monotonous song, and
according to expert authority 1t 10
perfectly true that the pest is again
in existence. Of only short life, how.
ever, they will be gone in a few more
weeks, and then, II the precedent set
in the past is not broken, they will
not appear again until the year 1929.
II years hence, 1t being an establish.
ed fact that the insects put in their
appearance only once in that period
of time.
The 17-year locust was first no
ticed in the United States 6S years
ago and since that time they have
reappeared regularly every IL years.
The years 1914, 1861, 1878, and 1895
were all locust years, and it was prob.
ably in the year 1861, which marked
the outbreak of the war of the rebel.
lion that the W-like black marks at
the tips of the wings were first dis.
covered and characterized as being
forecast of war;
The 17.year locust Is most un.
| usual insect. So utterly harmless is
1t that it would be wiped from the
face of the earth in the course of
few short years, we're it not for its
curious habit of spending 80 per cent
of its life underground, out of dan
ger from its natural enemies.
Anyone interested in nature might
find 1t interesting to make study
of the insects. Entomologists,. who
have made careful study of the
creatures for years have many inter-
esting stories to tell of their habits.
They say that only the male locusts
sing and that they produce their cur
ious music by means of two drumlike
arrangements on the front section of
the lower part of their abdomen.
In defense of the insect students
OF their characteristics claim that the
males are absolutely harmless that
they injure In no way either tree nor
shrub. They say, however, that the
females. in laying their eggs, damage
young wood Of all kinds of trees and
shrubs, especially oaks and hickories.
The damage done lies in the fact
that on the hind part of the female
abdomen is sharp, knife-like instru.
ment with which she cuts beneath
the bark of the trees In laying her
eggs.
The eggs are laid in the tree twigs
In the month Of June and in July
they hatch into antlike creatures. one.
twelfth Of an inch long. These tiny
insects drop to the ground at once,
burrowing deeply into the soil For
l6 1-2 years they live on plant roots.
growing slowly. so slowly in fact as to
make their growth almost impercep.>
tible. Every two or three years, how.
ever, they split their skin and grow
new one.
At the end of the 18th year they
are curious, grublike creatures, al.
most All inch IN length and when they
come out of the ground in the spring
Of the fifth year, they are still grub.
like and wingless.
To make their change they climb
trees and shrubs, attaching them
selves to the bark The outer shell
after time, is split open and an
almost pure white insect emerges.
with small white pads noticeable on
It's shoulders. Those sweel 80 speedily
that, according to expert entomolog-
lists, anyone watching closely may see
the wings sprouting and according to
the same experts, the wings are half
grown inside OF 20 minutes after the
insect first emerged from its shell.
In less than an hour the wings are
full grown and the locust has then
| atfoiuod ITO maturity