Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-20
The Periodical Cicada.
NO CAUSE FOB ALARM IN MAINE.

II any orchardist In Maine is letting
his pruning hook get rusty while he is
waiting for the Periodical Cioada to trim
bis apple trees'for him, he may be ex-
aspersted to learn that he Is living in
one of the very few states east of the
Rockies where no help of this sort has
ever been rendered by these most inter
esting insects. Although their spectac-
ular appearance has been observed here
and there In this country ever since 1885,
never in this stretch of more than $50
years is there any record that the state
of Maine has harbored any OF their
various broods. Residents of Maine,
therefore, who wish to witness the
remarkable advent of the Periodical
Cicada will need to visit its haunts In
some other state. That Cicada con.
cert would be worth the trip for those
who seek weird and unusual sensations
In music is indicated by the following
quotation from q contributor to the
Scientific American March %, 1851:
1.-THE music or song produced by the
myriads of these insects in q warm day
from about the 25th of May to the mid
die of June is wonderful. It Is not
deafening, as many describe 1t; even at
its height 1t does not interrupt ordinary
conversation. 1t seems like an atmoe-
phere of wild, monotonous sound, In
which all other sounds float with perfect
distfrctness. After day or two this
music becomes tiresome aud doleful, and
to many very dissgreesble. To me 1t
was otherwise, and when heard the
last note of the h,of June the melan-
choly reflection occurred-sball live to
hear 1t againp"
Those of us, however, who in the
absence of help from the Periodical
Cioada in the home orchard, find our
selves detained by the duty of taking
care of our trees in person may yet
obtain consolation from the fact that,
though this particular periodic species
does not visit us, We have nevertheless,
other Cicadas in Maine which may be
expected to appear in 1919.
A larger Cicada than the famous
periodical species is indeed due In this
state this year, an insect as interesting,
Individually, no doubt as its noted
cousin; and q musician, too, as every
country dwelling Mantle will have the
chance of testifying next August.
We expect this larger Cicada In 1913
with confidence in nature who has not
failed us in this respect for q single year
since man first began to notice insects
kiu Maine. The reason we keep still
about our species here while the press
of the country heralds the scheduled
broods in other states as with flare OF
trumpets, IL. that our insect, whether Il
spends few or many years underground,
has no conspicuous break In the dates oi
/ it's appearance, the broods being 30 dis.
tributed that we get few every year In.
stead of great many at certain periods
long apart.
Our Cicada sings but solo parts, or ai
most a scapty chorus. We take him
calmly ss an every year affair while MS
silent mate deposits eggs in numbers be-
low the limit Of economic importance.
We are not to be Cicads- less In 1919 ol
apy subsequent year SO far as 1t is safe
TO prophecy; but there is nothing %
spsctaoulsr about our species - will
that periodical cousin Of other statel
vho comes but once In thirteen or seven
teen years and then In such numbers y
| TO bewiider the ear with its "Phasrsr-f
| aoh' note and cause CONSERVATION b,
ttbe pruping consequences of its peculiar
egg laying habits.
We must do our own orchard trim
ming this year 90 usual; neither hopinl
l for . sight of remarkable ~interest, no
| Fearing any upvonted disturbance from
Cioada sources. Maine is not favoret
| tby The Periodical Cicada.-Chas. D
Woeds, .Director Maine Experiment Sta
tion.