Cicada Gigas alarm clocks

[AllenK RGV]

Where I live we have the western hemisphere's loudest insect. It is the giant cicada and man they start singing before it is even close to chicken o'clock in the morning. Our house is pretty well insulated but they still wake you up. Feel free to you tube them as they are loud.

edit adding a link:

 

[SueT]

Wow! Never knew about Gigas! I love cicadas!
Here's a link to Cicada Mania so people can figure out what kind(s) they have this year:
http://www.cicadamania.com/genera/north-america.php

 

[Labradors]

Fascinating! However, they must be very annoying, waking you up so early!

 

[AllenK RGV]

We have Gigas every year. They are not a 17 year species.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Fascinating! However, they must be very annoying, waking you up so early!

I love that they tell me when chicken o\clock is. I do not need an Iphone app for that. I have giant cicadas instead.

edit..
apparently the second wake up call is 9am judging by this mornings noise.

 

[AllenK RGV]

They set the rhythim of daily life down here. My wife is currently in Germeny and misses them.

 

[drumstick diva]

The every year ones are too bad. The 17 yr. ones are horrible- their din is so loud and continuous that the news said they could cause hearing loss in as little as one hour. Plus if you knocked them off your arm they scream. My son missed them last time because he was out of state for the summer. Which makes me realize we should be due for them next year. Oy vey!!

 

[AllenK RGV]

The every year ones are too bad. The 17 yr. ones are horrible- their din is so loud and continuous that the news said they could cause hearing loss in as little as one hour. Plus if you knocked them off your arm they scream. My son missed them last time because he was out of state for the summer. Which makes me realize we should be due for them next year. Oy vey!!

Stand near a gigas and hearing loss can most likely occur in under 5 minutes. I have not directly measured their decibles, but would rate them around 140. I have walked directly under one at Bentson State Park on their walking trails was not a pleasant experience. Wikipedia rates them as the loudest in the western hemisphere.

They are highly beneficial for my chicken though ensuring I wake up every day!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Talking about the cicada gigas, it feels like midnight and they are still calling. I wish they would stop. It must be a moon thing because the sun set.

 

[SueT]