Brood # 10 of noisy, red-eyed cicadas will emerge any day now in the Washington, DC area. We went through this before, 17 years ago. They hatched, they sang loudly day and night, they mated. They didn't eat and probably never slept. After three weeks, they were worn out. They flew ever more slowly, bumping absent-mindedly into things and people. It was if they were half asleep or dying, which they were. And then they disappeared. Their progeny will emerge 17 years from now, but we won't be around to see it.
Although many people claim to be grossed out by the mere sight of a cicada, Dilly Dog will be delighted. She was born on an Amish farm seven years ago. During her first few months of life, she seems to have supplemented her diet by digging for moles and voles. When the cicadas arrive, she'll probably think "mice with wings" and feast on them. Fortunately, they're not toxic.
"Mice with wings" sounds frightening. This is why I don't care for Spring. Too much nature outdoors.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably why mankind first lived in caves and then began building huts, cabins, houses, mansions, etc. We clearly need to keep nature where it belongs: outdoors!
DeleteOh, you'll have to keep us updated on them this year. I didn't know anything about this.
ReplyDeleteI will.
DeleteI thought our cicadas had disappeared altogether, but you say it is a 17 year cycle. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, as I understand it, different broods have different cycles. It's just that we notice the 17th-year brood because the brood is so big.
DeleteThe year I sold my house, the cicadas emerged in Peninsula, Ohio. We had more than three weeks, the life cycle encompassed all the cicadas that emerged. People coming to the house were enchanted. "The lovely sound!" Six weeks later I nearly was crazy.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved to MD over 50 years ago, two broods (the 17-year-brood and another brood on a different cycle) emerged at once, according to my husband who is more interested in insects than I am. Their cycles happened to coincide. The cicadas were everywhere and the noise was maddening.
DeleteWe watched a news item tonight about cicadas. We don't have them here in Canada (too cold, I guess). Apart from the incessant noise, those little buggers pee on people too!
ReplyDeleteOh, no! This is not good news. I finally figured out who was peeing on our white faux-leather porch furniture. Squirrels!!
DeleteI can't say that I'm grossed out by the sight of cicadas but I am kind of grossed out by Dilly Dog snacking on them
ReplyDeleteI think Dilly Dog will welcome them as snacks, but she could surprise us and ignore them.
DeleteI am a cicada hater, always have been. the noise they make never stops and i have extreme hearing, even inside the house they keep me awake. our jake would have eaten them, that dog would eat anything that was alive.
ReplyDeleteWhen a dog chomps down on one, he/she probably gets to hear a satisfactory "crunch." No need for an air-fryer.
DeleteWe don't seem to be that bothered (knock on lots of wood) by cicadas here. I remember, though, visiting Virginia one year when they had one of these cicada invasions; you literally couldn't understand other people talking to you outside. It wouldn't take me three weeks to lose my mind. Dilly Dog has my permission to snack on them!
ReplyDeleteDilly Dog says she can't wait to get started.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting. They most not populate much in my area.
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