17 year cicadas

They're coming…bleck!!

I can't wait….bleh

They're already here. They're just sleeping over the Winter. They were singing up a storm all last Summer and early Fall. They don't bother me.

Originally posted by Jaguär:
They're already here. They're just sleeping over the Winter. They were singing up a storm all last Summer and early Fall. They don't bother me.

Not the 17 year Cicadas…… They have been underground feeding on tree roots and the like for the last 16.5 years.

Anyway, I had been meaning to ask about this for a while. I would love to see them, they are such a freaky phenom. Do they appear in the district? If not where is a good place to go to see them?

I'm telling you, they were out buzzing up my neighborhood like crazy all Summer. Saw one or two in Virginia too.

They're beautiful. They look like super giangantic flies with cool greens and other colors and translucent wings. You will know when you hear them because they are very, very loud. Wait until you hear several of them at once! It's almost like something out of a Hitchcock film. Sort of like The Birds. But don't worry, they are harmless. At least, to people. Their old shells are pretty ugly though.

Here's some cicada fun for you in the meantime, Markie.
___________________________

Okay, I followed my own advice and found out that my cicadas were Summer cicadas. The colors are different. The 17 year guys are brown with orange trim.

Here's my favorite question and answer from the FAQ page.

Question: Do cicadas pee, and if so, why? (5/2002)
Short Answer: Because, like humans, they have to.
Answer: Courtesy of Les Daniels, author of the Great Lakes Cicada site:
"I've experienced this several times where I was on the receiving end of this artificial rain. When many cicadas congregate on warm days, they feed on the tree fluids and often urinate 'piss' while doing so. This bug urine is called 'honey dew.' The little buggers have pelted me several times while I was observing a little 'too' close. It isn't uncommon.
Lastly, the 'honey dew' does not stain, or stink. In fact, it feels like rain drops."

Originally posted by mark e smith:

Originally posted by Jaguär:
They're already here. They're just sleeping over the Winter. They were singing up a storm all last Summer and early Fall. They don't bother me.

Not the 17 year Cicadas…… They have been underground feeding on tree roots and the like for the last 16.5 years.

Anyway, I had been meaning to ask about this for a while. I would love to see them, they are such a freaky phenom. Do they appear in the district? If not where is a good place to go to see them?

Be careful what you wish for…

Originally posted by Moon Mulllins:
Be careful what you wish for…

Yeah, wait until he sees one next to his new mini! :D

Anyone have any Cicada recipes?

Cicada Crisps

The ingredients are:
60 Freshly emerged 17 year Cicadas,
3 cup Flour,
2 teaspoons of Salt and pepper
1 cup of Flour
4 Eggs
1 cup Corn oil or slightly salted Butter

The recipe yield is:
4 Servings

The best way to prepare them is to dip them, still alive, in beaten egg, roll them in the seasoned flour and then gently saute them seasoned until they are golden brown, then serve!

I saw that the Asians like eating cicadas. But that's no surprise, considering some of the things they like to eat over there.

According to this chart, Virginia had their season in 2003 and Maryland's is in 2004. One other chart I saw had both Maryland and Virginia in 2004. Guess it all depends on which family decides to have their reunion.

That's just wonderful..

*sigh*

Sure they are real ugly, too ugly to eat, that is for sure.

But I would love to see a big swarm of them, its such a shit or bust lifestyle. I find that quuite admirable.

So, when do they appear, and do we get them in DC? I have seen the non-17 year Cicadas hanging about, but I want to see a swarm.

You're close enough to some parks and other treed areas that you should see some. Not too sure about flying swarms though. I can't really remember myself seeing any swarms in flight. What you will notice are the carcasses and old shells all over the place and the living ones hanging out in the trees. The most obvious thing will be their sounds. It's so loud that it may even bother you. At the same time, some people find their songs relaxing. Never-the-less, they are very, very loud.

The best part is places that *had* tons of trees, knocked them out, but the cicadas are still there. Boom, huge number.

I was here for the last infestation and can say that suburbia is crazy with them. Take a nice long bike ride and keep your mouth shut. They don't fly very well and seem to aim for you…

i'm prepared to be grossed out…i remember them from last time, all over the place..but then i was 8 and enjoyed torturing them by pulling off their wings and legs and heads. Ugh…

Originally posted by Sir HC:
The best part is places that *had* tons of trees, knocked them out, but the cicadas are still there. Boom, huge number.

hmmm sounds a bit like greenbelt…

Ok, well when May rolls around, can you suburban dwellers let me know if you see a big swarm?

Oh markie old chap…you'll see the little feckers trust me, I remember them from the last time round….It was my first summer here and I remember thinking to myself, "where the flying *uck have I come to live with these things all over the place" it's like a sci-fi movie. In some areas they fall out of the trees into your hair and they are so dense on the sidewalk that you can't help but "crunch crunch crunch" your way through them. Driving…. they SPLAT on your windshield like you've just hit a friggin bird.

My wife is freaking already, she thought I was making this shit up until she asked some people at her work and they confirmed it.

Funny thing is though, they're kind of cute in their own way..and the noise they make, while almost deafening, is somewhat relaxing.

And yes, they're brownish and orange.

Thats good, thanks Mankie. I always wanted to see plague, pestilence and flood……. I cant wait.

whew you guys had me really scared i thought you were talking about this guy……. <img src="http://www.lyricscafe.com/s/secada_jon/jon_secada.jpg" alt=" - " />

although the idea of crunching him under foot sounds quite good…………

Originally posted by poorlulu:
I love Jon Secada

luckily I think we have a few more years before he comes back