REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IC)II 69 



Life history. This insect presents an extraordinary life cycle, 

 requiring in the northern states seventeen years to complete 

 its transformations, though the adult existence is relatively 

 short. The same species completes its transformations in the 

 southern states in thirteen years. The Cicadas appear in this 

 latitude the latter part of May, usually from May 20th to early 

 June and may continue to July, a few persisting into August. 

 The pupa emerges about dusk from its circular hole or burrow 

 about half an inch in diameter and climbs the nearest support. 

 Here it fixes itself firmly and prepares for the final transforma- 

 tion, which latter is an extremely interesting process and may 

 occupy about an hour and a half. The established pupa is 

 illustrated on plate 19, figure 1, while the first sign of the 

 impending change, namely, a split along the back, is shown 

 at plate 19, figure 2 and only five minutes later at plate 19, 

 figure 3. Two minutes later we have a condition shown 

 at plate 19, figure 4, while five minutes after the insect is 

 half way out of the pupal shell (plate 19, figure 5) the with- 

 drawing of the tender wings and legs from their horny cases 

 is a matter of some difficulty and proceeds relatively slowly. One 

 stage of this, taken seven minutes after the above mentioned, 

 illustration, is shown at plate 19, figure 6, while two minutes 

 later (plate 20, figure 1) the developing insect had already com- 

 menced to turn back, and a minute later (plate 20, figure 2) 

 had nearly freed its legs, this process being complete (plate 23, 

 figure 3) 1 minute later and within another minute (plate 



20, figure 4) the perfect insect was resting upon the empty pupal 

 shell, and six minutes later (plate 20, figure 5) it was hang- 

 ing beside the empty shell and the wings were beginning 

 to develop. The developing wings are better seen in a dorsal 

 view (plate 20, figure 6) which represents the pupa as it is turn- 

 ing back in an effort to withdraw its limbs, while six minutes 

 later (plate 21, figure 1) we have the same Cicada clinging to 

 a leaf and with its limp, milk white wings about half expanded. 

 This latter process is rapid and the wings were nearly extended 

 one minute later (plate 21, figure 2) and practically fully de- 

 veloped (plate 21, figure 3) in two minutes. The limp wings 

 gradually stiffen and are then wrapped around the body (plate 



21, figure 4). The insect hardens during the night, the wing 

 veins become dark red, the body black and we have the well-known 

 Cicada (plate 21, figure 5). 



