REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IQII 85 



ant. Miss Annis E. Thomson, of Yonkers, reports thousands of 

 Cicadas at Lowerre Summit and Park Hill. It is probable that 

 the insect was pretty generally distributed throughout the west- 

 ern and southern portion of the county, at least. 



Natural enemies. A large and excessively numerous insect 

 such as the Cicada affords abundant provender for many natural 

 enemies. Cats and dogs have been reported as eating the pupae 

 as they emerge from the ground. Miss Annis E. Thomson of 

 Yonkers reports feeding twenty of the insects in succession to a 

 cat without any ill effects. Skunks, groundhogs and gray squir- 

 rels have been observed in earlier years feeding upon the Cicadas, 

 and it is probable that several other quadrupeds do not ignore 

 this article of diet. There were several reports of domestic 

 fowls, probably all kinds, feeding greedily upon the insects. 

 Birds, such as hawks, crows, robins and sparrows, feed readily 

 upon this species. More than one farmer reports no pulling of 

 corn and unharmed cherries as a result of abundant Cicadas in 

 the vicinity. A flock of crows hanging over a woodland and 

 scolding on the approach of man, is very likely to signify a 

 colony of Cicadas. The English sparrow appears to be particu- 

 larly fond of this insect and is undoubtedly largely responsible 

 for its local extermination in the vicinity of cities. 



There are several insect enemies of the Cicada. Mr J. C. 

 Guffin, Albany, reports having observed cne of our largest 

 dragon flies feeding upon a Cicada. His attention was attracted 

 by the Cicada note and sounds of a struggle. An investigation 

 disclosed the two insects on a nearby mullen stalk. The dragon 

 fly was seen to bite off the head of the Cicada, eat into the 

 thorax, and after a time, becoming alarmed, fly away with the 

 remainder of the body. Mr O. O. Flint, Athens, reported 

 darning needles numerous in the vicinity of a locust colony. 

 Ants have also been observed to attack Cicadas though they 

 probably content themselves with preying on the dying or dead. 



The fungus Massospora cicadina was reported 

 rather prevalent in a number of localities. Mr William T. Davis 

 of Staten Island found numerous males and females infected 

 with the disease at West Point June 3d. It was observed in 

 Gracehnd Cemetery near Albany as early as June 9th, while at 

 New Baltimore it was rather prevalent June 10th and 13th. Oc- 

 casional specimens could be seen flying even after most of the 

 abdomen had dropped off as a result of the fungous infection. 

 Mr R. G. Doxey, Mountainville, reports the occurrence of the 



