YT Summary: In case you haven't heard yet, the cicadas are coming this year. In the next few months you will be hearing about the impending emergence of the 17 year cicada, mistakenly called 17 year locusts. If you don't remember the last outbreak, or if you are new to this area, you need to know a few facts about this periodic phenomenon.
Cicadas are large, plant-feeding insects. They have clear wings and are known for making a very loud noise. When tens of thousands of cicadas are singing at the same time the sound is quite loud and annoying. Be prepared for about 2 to 4 weeks of this sound beginning in May.
Although it is not entirely clear why this insect comes out every 17 years, scientists believe it has something to do with survival. Since billions of cicadas emerge at about the same time, it is impossible for birds and other predators to make a dent in the population. Yes, the birds have their fill of cicadas, since this insect is a rather cumbersome flier. But how much can one bird eat in a month?
18 Comments
Fletchhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4820696.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/20/america/NA-GEN-US-Cicada-Invasion.php
theo47Happened in Cincinnati a couple of years back.
I hate bugs.
couplandsays...Worst soundtrack ever? It's a documentary about bugs, not the end of the second age of Middle Earth.
rickegeeThis plague happened in Maryland about two years ago. It was filthy and marvelous.
I have some great pictures of my (then) 2 yr old daughter playing with the giant LOCUSTS ('cicadas' is a term only used by bug professors, prats, and pedants) and their carcasses.
grspecBack in 96 or so we had a major outbreak in MO and we happened to be painting our house that summer. Let me tell you the noise almost drove us insane. We couldn't even get the radio loud enough to drown it out and after 2 weeks I wanted to shoot myself to end the noise. It was crazy and the amount of cicada carcasses that were on the ground was amazing.
bl968This is a locust: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~vivek/Icons/locust.jpg
This is a Cicada: http://www.bestfoto.com/Galleries/Gallery_008/cicadas.jpg
See the difference? The Locust is a kind of Grasshopper.
couplandsays...Actually, 'pedant' is a term only used by pedants
rickegeeSo true, coupland. But I couldn't think of another "p" word that was clean. And there simply has never been a "plague of cicadas."
As grspec and firefly can confirm, the 17 year brood reaches end-of-days Biblical plague proportions in about three weeks. And that buzzing shrieking noise! So they will always be locusts to me.
fireflyah yes, I remember their last visit. Kind of disappointing; didn't have nearly as much as I thought I would near my home (Woodbridge). But LOTS near my work (McLean,there were carcasses EVERYWHERE), a difference of just under 23 miles.
anttheo47: You don't like ants and fireflies either?
gorgonheap*deaders
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geo321*bugs
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jonny*dead
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Fletch*kill
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