topic Re: They're certainly back in Community Chat

They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:01:41 GMT

They are called the Brood X. Today I took a walk on my lunch hour. I saw 3 Cicadas. They have a face only a mother can love. They are horrible fliers. Just awful. Their idea of flying is from the ground up to my shoulder. Then launch themselves up to a tree. Very clumsy insects. I'm not afraid of them. But it looked ridiculous sitting on my shoulder. The other two were on the ground on my driveway. One was dead. I think one of us ran over him. They should be all out within the next two days. I've forgotten the noise they make. But at least they're quiet after dark. Or I hope they are. The only ones that'll be happy are birds and cicada killers (bees). And of course people that claim they've eaten them.

Re: They're certainly back

september — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:16:54 GMT

I'm heading to Maryland in a few weeks. I think they may be out in full force at that time? I'm not afraid of insects, just find them icky, especially in huge amounts.

Re: They're certainly back

fthunt — Sat, 15 May 2021 00:18:20 GMT

I've heard all the chatter on TV about them coming out; but today wondered the date/month as haven't paid that much attention.

As a kid I fully remember those black worms with gold dots on the back - hanging from webs from our many big maple trees. They would just - drop - down on you or you walk through a web/nest. I wasn't a happy kid when they were out.

Here & NOW...... we get tree frogs (tiny ones) in hot August weather and they make a loud high pitch constant.... that never ends. Swear there are hundreds - then all of a sudden - complete quiet. Do they have choir director that says...STOP.......or does one studip little frog make all that noise? Beats me.....but it drives me back in house from porch.

Re: They're certainly back

SilleeMee — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:07:49 GMT

We don't have those cicada bugs here in Colorado. We have an abundance of ants (no fire ants!), however....all kinds of them. Not much of anything else. Maybe an occasional scorpion but not many, depending on where you are.

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:08:07 GMT

@september wrote:
I'm heading to Maryland in a few weeks. I think they may be out in full force at that time? I'm not afraid of insects, just find them icky, especially in huge amounts.

Full force in a few days! 15 states. All of the middle atlantic states, PA, VA, etc. This group is called Brood X, and they are biggest in terms of population.

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:10:04 GMT

@fthunt They only quiet just before a storm. But the "singing" seems to non stop. The terrible flying and the noise (plus the damage to the trees) A lot of people were smart enough to put netting on young trees. They are harmless to people. But they mistake people for trees though.

Re: They're certainly back

fthunt — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:12:40 GMT

Goose Bumps......................................

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:19:13 GMT

Supposedly you can eat them. Just rinse off the dirt. Olive oil in a pan. Add veggies or pasta, then the cicadas. Every time they come, they put on a cooking show starring the cicadas. I've never eaten one. Last time they came, I was on campus. The guys were chasing the girls clutching them. Trying to drop them down their tops.

After they mate, they die happy. They'll be around from now to the end of June.

Re: They're certainly back

patbz — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:18:50 GMT

I remember them from 1954 or 55 when I lived in Silver Spring. Also remember the older brother of a little friend who loved dissecting them; he later became a Surgeon (really).

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:22:58 GMT

@patbz wrote:
I remember them from 1954 or 55 when I lived in Silver Spring. Also remember the older brother of a little friend who loved dissecting them; he later became a Surgeon (really).

I love that. We didn't have them Italy (or I don't remember them there) I remember here in the U.S. kids running around with them. Some were mean, trying pull off their wings.

Re: They're certainly back

FiddleDeeDee — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:22:00 GMT

I was in MD when we had the this bunch (the 15 year lot) arrive and, as a kid, it was great fun. We found them to be amazing. What I remember was having the window open at night, laying in bed and falling asleep to their "noise".

I remember being out of the country when they hit sometime in the early 80's and my dad trying to hear me over the din and me hearing them over the phone. My roommate asked me what that sound was and I told her. She had never heard of them (Mid-west girl) and was shocked at how loud they were.

We'll miss this group as well but I'm sure when calling friends and family, we'll hear them. FYI: MD has cicadas every summer as there are different varieties so you always have that sound going on in the summer (along with the crickets). Best night time lullaby (next to the rain) there is.

Re: They're certainly back

september — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:24:45 GMT

@songbird I knew they were coming when I booked my trip, but was kind of hoping they'd be gone for good by the first weekend in June! I guess there will be some stragglers.

may they find their mates quickly, and be gone!

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:29:01 GMT

@september wrote:
@songbird I knew they were coming when I booked my trip, but was kind of hoping they'd be gone for good by the first weekend in June! I guess there will be some stragglers.

may they find their mates quickly, and be gone!

They'll all be gone by the end of June or beginning of July. Short lives after being in the ground for 17 years. They mate. The singing is the rubbing of their legs (the males I think) to attract the females. Once knocked up, the femailes drop the eggs (or larve?) in to the ground for another 17 years. Then they just die. Don't eat at all.

Re: They're certainly back

Spurt — Sat, 15 May 2021 01:43:35 GMT

We have our own species of Cicadas here in Texas not the brood X. You know the weather is at its hottest in the summer when they begin to sing......🔥🌞

Re: They're certainly back

kittykatkay — Sat, 15 May 2021 02:16:36 GMT

I guess I am the odd woman out, but I love them singing. It reminds me of my childhood when we would sit outside and listen to them at night and didn't mind them at all.

https://youtu.be/3IUPd3yDHGo

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 02:31:15 GMT

@FiddleDeeDee Yes. There is a 15 year variety, a 7 year, etc. But the 17 year one is the one everyone remembers. We missed the 15 year one even though It hit our state. The specific area missed us. Brood X is more wide spread.

Countries that have noxious insect invasions the most is Australia with his plague of hopping frogs. Think of the number of cicadas then number it with frogs. Horrible snakes that always seem to get inside houses. Terrible heat too. So some places get stuff a lot worse then what we get.

Re: They're certainly back

godi — Sat, 15 May 2021 11:45:46 GMT

They are definitely annoying bugs. I have not heard or seen them yet in Pennsylvania. They had a story on the news to not plant any new trees till they are gone.

Re: They're certainly back

Eileen in Virginia — Sat, 15 May 2021 13:00:38 GMT

We noticed them on the exterior wall of our carport Thursday night when we were packing the car. There were about 25 or 30 just sitting there on the brick wall. We didn't see them anywhere else, but that side of the yard gets the sun all day long, so it must have been warm enough to coax them out of the ground. They weren't making any noise, either. We haven't seen any in Williamsburg so far.

Re: They're certainly back

Witchy Woman — Sat, 15 May 2021 13:35:34 GMT

@september

I'm in Southern Maryland and haven't seen a one....yet.

It's been very cool here, and that slows down their emergence.

However, other parts of the State have already started. Our local news showed pictures of fences covered with them.

It's silly, but they make me very uneasy!

Re: They're certainly back

songbird — Sat, 15 May 2021 17:35:15 GMT

@Witchy Woman wrote:
@september

I'm in Southern Maryland and haven't seen a one....yet.

It's been very cool here, and that slows down their emergence.

However, other parts of the State have already started. Our local news showed pictures of fences covered with them.

It's silly, but they make me very uneasy!

The little buggers are starting to make some noise! Very faint, but I hear some. Your South. You should get some. I know Virginia is supposed to get them too. Here's a map.