The Periodical Cicada

by Charles Lester Marlatt

The Periodical Cicada is a scientific book written by C. L. Marlatt and published in 1907. The book is a comprehensive study of the life cycle and behavior of the periodical cicada, a species of cicada that emerges from the ground every 13 or 17 years in large numbers. Marlatt's research is based on observations and experiments conducted over several years, and he provides detailed descriptions of the cicada's anatomy, physiology, and behavior.The book is divided into several chapters, each of which covers a different aspect of the cicada's life cycle. Marlatt begins by describing the emergence of the cicada from the ground, and the various stages of its development, including the shedding of its skin and the growth of its wings. He then discusses the cicada's mating behavior, including the distinctive calls made by males to attract females, and the various strategies employed by females to choose a mate.Marlatt also explores the ecological and environmental factors that influence the cicada's behavior, including the role of temperature, humidity, and light. He describes the cicada's interactions with other animals, including predators and parasites, and the ways in which the cicada has evolved to defend itself against these threats.Throughout the book, Marlatt provides detailed descriptions of his observations and experiments, and includes numerous illustrations and photographs to help readers visualize the cicada's behavior and anatomy. The Periodical Cicada is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the biology and behavior of this fascinating insect, and remains an important reference work for scientists and researchers studying cicadas today.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2010

About the author

From Wikipedia: Charles Lester Marlatt (1863–1954) was an American entomologist. Born in 1863 at Atchison, Kansas, he was educated at Kansas State Agricultural College (B.S., 1884; M.S., 1886), where he was assistant professor for two years. He is the person who introduced the ladybug insect Chilocorus similis into the United States to control the San Jose scale insect,[1] which was first discovered in San Jose, California in 1880 by John Henry Comstock and named by him. Marlatt worked for the Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture. In 1912 he was appointed chairman of the Federal Horticultural Board. He was president of the Entomological Society of Washington in 1897–98 and of the American Association of Economic Entomologists in 1899.

His 1907 description of periodic cicadas remains a classic in the field. In this article, Marlatt proposed a grouping of periodic cicadas into 30 different broods, each given a Roman numeral. Broods I–XVII assigned brood numbers for each of 17 sequential calendar years to 17-year cicadas. Broods XVIII–XXX assigned 13 sequential calendar years to 13-year cicadas. Subsequent research has established that, in fact, not every year produces a brood of periodical cicadas. There are only 15 distinct broods, not 30, but Marlatt's scheme continues to be used.[2]