Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-02-25

RAYMOND, Agricultural Edftor Oxford Dem
ocrak Paris. Ne.
Seventeen-Year Locust.
The most Interesting insect in the
world, the periodical cicada, is going tC
be seen, perhaps in very large numbers
during the coming spring and early sum
mer over large regions OF the United
States where this brood has not appeared
before for II years, and over other
regions where another brood appeared
IL years ago. This is the insect com
monty referred TO as the l7-yesr locust"
name that is incorrect in at least two
particulars. 1t Is not a locust ut all,
that name being properly applied only
TO members OF the grasshopper family,
and while 1t has II year period, it also
has lS year period. II has been so long
miscslled by the name OF locust, how.
ever, that there is no hope of divesting
u OF that incorrect appellstiop, and In
the regions where there is the longer
period OF recurrence it will continue to
De known rs the "17-year locust" and
in the areas of the shorter recurrence
period as the "l3-year locust" The
scientifically accepted name of periodical
oicada, therefore, Is the only one tina,
exactly fits.
The statement that this is the most
interesting insect in the world will hard
~ be questioned anywhere, and IL is the
most Interesting because IL is the most
anomalous, or, possibly, because 1t has
always appeared to be SO mysterious
The fact that II appears in countless
numbers one year, then is not seen again
for half the average lifetime Of human
beings, and then suddenly appears again
in countless numbers, has kept the pop
ulsr mind mystifled and has woven many
superstitions about the cicsds. When
it is known that the insect spends the IS
or II years in slow development beneath
the ground and emerges at almost exact
ly the same spot where it entered the
ground IS or IL years before, then the
mystery disappears, but the interest, If
anything, is intensified. One of the
queerest things in nature is that in spite
of such extremely slow growth in their
subterrsnesn habitat, all the millions of
individuals attain maturity and burst
from the ground at almost the same
moment.
Every "locust year" is, in some sort, a
year Of fear and dread. 1t appears to
have been so with the savsges and has
remained so with their civilized sue
cessors, notwithstanding the fact that
the cicsds has been under investigation
for well over 200 years, and the appear.
ance of the swarms are foretold by the
entomologists as accurately as eclipses
esl e. -
People have fancied that they could de-
tect in the cry of the cicada resem-
blance to the name of the monarch,
Pharaoh, that prosecuted the 'Israelites,
and that occult belief or fear added to
the somewhat dolorous sound has served
to make the Cry of the eicsds generally
80 unwelcoms one. Very long ago some
superstition attached to the dark bars
Of the filmy wings. These bars are
always In the shape of the letter w, but
few people remember that through 3
period of IS or II years. and great signiti-
canoe is attached to IL at each recur-
renee. Some prophet has arisen always
TO announce that the w on the locusts
wings means "war." Since this out
break will come just at the conclusion OF
the greatest war, and when even the
imagination of the rural prophet could
hardly copjure up the likelihood OF an
other one, some new explanation will
apparently have to be found this time.
But no doubt the cioada will, as usual,
be greeted as q harbinger or disaster,
and, as usual, there will be reports OF
deaths caused by stings of the clcads, Q
belief that has persisted in spite OF posi-
tive proof that the cicads has no sting (;
that only by the EXTREMIST accident
could 1t inflict wound either with bill
or ovipositor, and that IL could not, in
any case, inject poison.
Any attempt to dispel the myths that
recur as faithfully as the cicsds Is likely
to be uuayaIling since those who still be-
lieye In them probably will continue TO
do SO regardless of anything that may De
said. There 10, however, another, erro
ueous belief that may DO somewhat shat
tered by q statement of the facts and
that constitutes the main reason Tor
press ageuting the cicsda in advance Oh
It's arrival.
Upon every appearance of large broods
of the cicads fear Is aroused that trees
will be destroyed, particularly young
trees of the fruiting and ornamental
species. There would seem to be some
gro und for such fear. The number Oh
insects is so tremendous that one can
hardly understand how they can deposit
their eggs In the young and tender
branches of the trees without killing
them. Yet the fact remains that there
have been outbreaks OF cicadas In some
sections of the United States in most OF
the wears since this country was discoV-
cred and that no very grave damage ever
vet hns been done. Very young fruit
treas sometimes are killed or seriously
injured, but little or no permanent IN
iury Ia done to forest trees or mature
trees OF any kind, and measures OF pro-
faction can be employed that will save
the young and tender stock from serious
injury. ,o,os -,
Iocusts NAV be one OF the largest on
record. il is particularly important 10
alIay excessive fear of destruction 70
timber as well rs to have people on
Onard. 40 that the few preventive meas
9res possible may be applied. The be-
nsf that the 1919 brood will be excep'
ltionslly large is based on the fact tns'
the n. YEAR brood coming out this year
is brood 10, perhaps the largest OF ths
17-year broods, and that brood ls OF tns
ls-year family comes out at the same
time. The year 1858 was the creates
locust year in history. In that yea
brood 10, the largest Of the lS-yesl
broods, appeared in conjunction wltl
brood 10, the two combining to make al
unprecedented infestation. The eoinoi
depcs Of the largest 17-year brood witi
A smaller lS-ysa brood this year Will no
hiring about conditions approaching
those Of 1858. ..,;
The United States Department OF Agr,
eulturs has long kept close check on 81
of the broods Of both families, ana
Able 70 say with almost complete scou
racy lust when and over what territot.
, sny brood will appear. The WORK .
classifying and locating the variou
broods with their periods OF recurrenc
bseap q long while ago and was attenue'
for some time with considerable ooniu
sion. 1t was generally believed tnas u ~
> osrIod OF recurrence was IL years, ou
svery once In q while there would 90 =
.h.t gailad To coincide Win An