Ready for the Plague???

[Razadia]

They're chewing the bark off of one of the trees my dad has been meaning to cut down. I thought it was squirrels until they said something about it on the news last night. They don't really bother me. If they stay away from my thyme and sage all will be well.

 

[Frosty]

I just saw this in an aol news story...

While many people see the mysterious cicadas as a nuisance and some find them frightening, they are actually harmless creatures that don't bite or sting in any way. According to the Jackson Sun, the red-eyed cicadas can even be eaten, and in some countries "are considered delicacies because of the high amount of protein they provide."

From The Tennessean



“There is no toxic component to cicadas,’’ [Grassmere Animal Hospital Veterinarian Carol] Machery said. “I’ve even heard of people storing them in a freezer for dog treats.”

 

[KristyHall]

i guess i'm the only one who likes them

 

[shelleyb1969]

After seeing those maps, and being born/raised in Tennessee...I'm SLIGHTLY glad to be living where I am now.

 

[ChooksChick]

Here in NE Kansas we have several kinds, including annual varieties, so we never have a summer without the undulating "eeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

The big news comes in years where the 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, 13-year and 17-year overlap, which is what happened in '98 (or somesuch nonsense).

I think we have an overlap year next year, but most of the maps don't really indicate we even have the darn things! Those entomologists should take a look at my elm trees and walnuts every year!

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
i think ours come every 7 and 13 years and sometimes they coincide.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
i think ours come every 7 and 13 years and sometimes they coincide.

You need to come hang out over here during the summer then! We have it every year and I love it. I think a summer without it would be weird!

The powwows all come through because we have Haskell Indian Nations University and I'm picturing the kids in your memory...only we haven't got swamps...just wetlands.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

We don't get the 17 year hatch much, we are on an edge for them. We do get the annual version and the dogs and birds think they are the tastiest snack EVER.

 

[tiffanyg2]

Quote:
Same here~ I remember when I was a kid in Florida finding there shells stuck to the big trees outside our house~ It really was such a cool thing. I remember actually watching one hatch out of the shell to! I hope I do see some to show my children but I really~really hope they don't try to eat all of my vege garden!!

I see SC is on the map so we should be seeing something~ Haha

 

[Chicken Chaperone]

Quote:
i think ours come every 7 and 13 years and sometimes they coincide.

You need to come hang out over here during the summer then! We have it every year and I love it. I think a summer without it would be weird!

The powwows all come through because we have Haskell Indian Nations University and I'm picturing the kids in your memory...only we haven't got swamps...just wetlands.

In NE Texas we get them every summer too. I remember, sitting outside, on the phone with a friend from Southern California. It was a beautiful evening and my friend kept saying "What? What? I can't hear you! What is all that noise in the background?!? It's really loud!!" and it occurred to me- oh, it's the cicadas- he's never heard them but I hear them so often in the summer the noise just kind of blends into the background and I don't notice it anymore.
It's just not a good time of year to go out for a motorcycle ride with out a helmet and a big smile on your face....