Sec. 12.] 



ENTOMOLOGICAL. 



281 



the Hudson were infested with the Cicadte. The male insect has a pair of 

 drums on each side of the head, and, when infesting an orcliard or woods, 

 tlie noise is frequently so great that no conversation can be heard in the 

 vicinity. The insect appears about the 25th of May, and remains si.x weeks. 

 The female is armed with an ovij^ositor, with which she inserts her eggs in 

 the smaller portions of limbs of fruit-trees, oaks, chestnuts, etc., always 

 selecting new growth, of an eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter. 

 The incisions, about twelve in number, are made at an angle of forty to fiftv 

 degrees, with an egg in each, and sometimes the twig is girdled near the 

 eggs, so that when the end of the twig dies it falls to the ground, and the 

 eggs are carried in by dews and rains. Miss Morris, of Germantown, Pa., a 

 well-known entomologist of close observation, claims that she found them 

 attached to the roots of pear-trees. 



" While plowing at our place, May 10, these insects were thrown out in 

 large quantities. The holes through which they ascend in the soil mav be 

 traced to a depth of four feet or more. This locust is not to be dreaded, as 

 they do but little harm ; are not known to feed, and the shortcning-in of 

 limbs by the depositing of their eggs may give a useful hint to those who 

 do not understand the benefits of tJie shortening-in process." 



lie also gave an account of a maple-tree in Newark, which appears to 

 have a sort of bohun upas effect upon flics ; they lay dead by thousands under 

 this tree. 



Prof. Mapes stated that, in plowing upon his farm near Xewark, in 

 May, the seventeen-year locusts were turned up in vast quantities. 



Dr. Trimble stated that this insect does not consume vegetation. Tliev 

 are within a few inches of the surface, waiting for the right condition of the 

 temperature to issue forth. Seventeen years ago these insects came forth on 

 the 25th of May, and immediately commenced their musical notes. They 

 remain about si.x weeks above ground, eating nothing. Tlie injury they do 

 vegetation is by puncturing the limbs to deposit their eggs. This kills the 

 ends of the branches. The apple-tree and elm-trees arc favorite frees with 

 these seventeen-year locusts. The time of their appearance varies in difler- 

 cnt localities. This is the year for all this vicinity and up the Hudson River. 

 My opinion is that the life of the insect is sustained under-ground by attach- 

 ing to the roots of plants. The limb selected for puncture is always small. 



The Secretary stated that the size of the limb punctured is not usually over 

 an oightli of an inch. 



!Mr. DoDCE stated that the locusts were very plentiful on Long Island five 

 years ago, and that ho lias seen them every year in tliis city. 



Prof. !NrAi'i:s thought that these fellows woiild be a little too much for 

 "insect powder." Still, he had received great benefit from one called the 

 "Persian Powder." Tliat will enable rae to grow early turnips, and it will 

 kill caterpillars. 



Mr. G.\LK — In 1809, in Orange County, the locusts were plentiful enough 

 to allow me to gather bushels of them, and the apple-trees were covered. 



