The periodical cicada in 1914

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Issued May 27, 1914.

United States Department of Agriculture,

BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE PERIODICAL CICADA IN 1914.

_ Information is desired on the subject of the occurrence of Brood V
of the periodical cicada (Tibicen septendecim L.) (fig. 1.) to supple-
ment and complete our knowledge of the distribution of this brood.

_ The known distribution of this brood is indicated in the accom-
panying map (fig. 2). The brood occupies, in the main, a rather
‘compact territory, lying chiefly in Ohio and West Virginia, with a few

Fig. 1.—The periodical cicada ( Tibicen septendecim): a, Adult; 6, same, side View; c, shed pupal skin.
Natural size. (Author’s illustration.)

scattering colonies in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some of the south-
ern West Virginia records are open to doubt, as are also some of the
records in Virginia. The distribution of this brood by States and
counties, as listed below, is based on records running back more than
100 years and particularly on studies in 1897 in Ohio by Prof. F. M.
Webster and in West Virginia by Dr. A. D. Hopkins, together with
' numerous records obtained by this bureau.

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES AND COUNTIES.

i _ Oxto.—Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford,
- Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison,
- Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning,
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Medina, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage,
Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Vinton,
Washington, Wayne.

PENNSYLVANIA.—Fayette, Greene, Washington.

VirciniA.—Augusta, Caroline, Highland (?), Shenandoah.

West Virami1a.—Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge,
Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier (?), Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha,
Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mineral, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants,
Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers(?), Taylor,
Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood.

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Fic. 2.—Map showing distribution of Brood V, 1914.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.

The periodical cicada is so well known that a general account of it
in this place is unnecessary. When it appears in great numbers it
naturally causes considerable alarm and arouses fears for the safety
of shade trees and orchards. The actual damage, however, is usually
slight, except in the case of newly planted orchards, and even here, by
vigorous pruning back after the cicada has disappeared, much of the
injury caused by the egg punctures (fig. 3) can be obviated.

Ordinary repellent substances, such as kerosene emulsion or car-
bolic-acid solutions, seem to have very little effect in preventing the
oviposition of these insects. Some recent experience, however, indi-
cates that trees thoroughly sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or a lime
wash are apt to be avoided by the cicada, especially if there are other

D. of D.
«PR 30:19 §

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__ trees or woods in the neighborhood on which they can oviposit. The

- most reliable means of protecting nurseries and young orchards is ate
~ collecting the insects in bags or umbrellas
from the trees in early morning or late
evening, when they are somewhat torpid.
Such collections should be undertaken at
the first appearance of the cicada and
repeated each day.

The recipient of this notice is urgently
requested to report, about June 10, on the
inclosed postal card, any occurrences of
thisinsect. The cicadas may be expected
to emerge from the middle to the end of
May, and scattering individuals may be
found up to the middle of June. Any
cicadas collected later than June will
probably belong to other species, and
wherever the observer is in doubt it will
be well to send specimens for determi-
nation. A negative record is often quite
as valuable as one of actual occurrence.
The card should be filled out with the
name of the locality, including the State,
county, and town, the name of the
observer, and the date. Space is left at
the bottom of the card for a note on any
features of interest, and the information
given should include the date of first
appearance or emergence of the cicada, yy 3_mge punctures of the periodical
the date of its general disappearance, and cicada: a, Twig showing recent pune-
the numbers—in other words, whether iia Barc see oe
very numerous or scattering, or whether showing older punctures, with retrac-
only a few individuals occur. No postage {on ot bark and more ily display ine

7 : the arrangement of fibers. Natural
is necessary on this card. size. (After Riley.)

C. L. Martart,
Entomologist and Acting Chief in Absence of Chief.

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Approved:
L. O. Howarp,
Entomologist and Chief of Bureau.

Wasuineton, D.C., May 12, 1914.
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WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1914

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