JERUSALEM'S LOCUST PLAGUE 



f PI 



543 



the trunks layers deep. Between the two 

 they stripped every leaf, berry, and even 

 the tender bark, leaving only, where such 

 existed, the green tufts of the poisonous 

 mistletoe. 



Likewise every variety of tree was at- 

 tacked and stripped, with the sole excep- 

 tion of the Persian lilac (Melia azedar- 

 ach L.) and oleander bushes (Nerium 

 oleander L.). "The succulent cactus 

 (Opuntia Ficiis-indica L.) they seemed 

 very fond of, but instead of commencing 

 on the edge of the large leaves, they ate 

 away layer after layer over the whole 

 surface, giving the leaves the effect of 

 having been jack-planed. Even on the 

 scarce and prized palms they had no pity, 

 gnawing off the tenderer ends of the 

 sword-like branches, and, diving deep 

 into the heart, they tunneled after the 

 juicy pith (see page 539). 



LAMPS NEVER BEFORE DIM ARE BEING 



EXTINGUISHED EROM LACK 



OF OLIVE OIL 



Last spring the olive trees were over- 

 loaded with bloom and a fine crop was 

 anticipated. Now the majority of the 

 groves have been so severely injured as 

 to render them fruitless for several years 

 (see page 534) . As last year was the off 

 or bad year, olive oil, usually so plentiful, 

 is now high-priced and almost unpro- 

 curable, and being one of the food sta- 

 ples of the poor, taking the place of meat 

 and butter, the loss of this crop, com- 

 bined with the grapes, no doubt will out- 

 weigh, economically and commercially, 

 the destruction caused to all other crops 

 combined. 



From days immemorial olive oil in this 

 land has been used as fuel for lighting 

 sacred lamps. Because of the locusts, 

 lamps never before dim, hanging in 

 Christian churches in front of icons and 

 altars, are daily being extinguished, just 

 as the sacrifices of Judah's Temple were 

 unwillingly suspended after the locust 

 devastation described by Joel : "Gird 

 yourselves, and lament, ye priests : howl, 

 ye ministers of the altar, — for the meat 

 offering and drink offering is withholden 

 from the house of your God" (Joel 1 113). 



One bright spot, the only silver lining 

 to the cloud yet seen, was indirectly 

 caused by the annihilation of the grape 



crop, viz., already "drinks" have doubled 

 in price; so that it is unnecessary with 

 Joel to say, "Awake, ye drunkards, and 

 weep ; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine," 

 because they are alreadv doing it (Joel 

 i:5). 



CHANGING THE NYMPH SKINS 



At first the finding of a creeping locust 

 in the act of changing its skin was a dis- 

 tinct novelty, for usually the process was 

 effected during the early hours of the 

 morning (see also page 522). 



The pupa now had its entire growth. 

 The large wings of its future state were 

 fully developed and neatly folded up in 

 the four membranous cases, resembling 

 tiny wings (see page 536). 



As the pupa neared this last moult it 

 seemed to lose all appetite and seek a 

 refuge from its brother locusts, for rea- 

 sons we shall later see. To this end dry 

 bushes and trees entirely devastated of 

 any green or locust food were the usual 

 nymph camps, while rubble walls and 

 stone piles often formed substitutes — all 

 such situated in a sunny, warm place 

 (see page 532). 



Just as it is about to moult the small 

 body becomes much inflated with air; 

 the bright yellow color of its skin seems 

 to fade away and give place to a somber 

 brownish red, the fact being that the 

 outer skin, just about to be shed, as it 

 loosens from the body, becomes semi- 

 transparent, and we can actually look 

 through it onto the outer skin of the 

 future flier. 



As the locust labors to release itself 

 from the old shell, we see the new eyes 

 emerging, leaving behind their old trans- 

 parent films resembling miniature auto- 

 mobile goggles. With much shoving and 

 pushing, the head alone emerges, the long 

 wings slowly unfold from the sacks con- 

 taining them, and the entire body, legs 

 and all, drops out of its old shell. 



Instead of depending upon a frame- 

 work of bones within its body to give it 

 the required strength and stiffness, the 

 locust relies upon its tough outer skin, 

 and therefore, now that it has lost its old 

 shell, it cannot be otherwise than limp 

 and soft, so that it has to remain still 

 until the hot sun and dry air have hard- 

 ened and stiffened it anew. 



