Cicada Experience?

mountainlaurel · #21 05/08/13, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salmonslayer

Yes, lots of people dont understand there are two types and until I experienced it myself I mostly thought people who described it had gone daft. They get called Locusts around here even though they arent locusts.

they are called locusts around here as well. The most memoriable one for me was in the third grade. School was still in and they were all over the playground

OnlyMe · #22 05/08/13, 05:19 PM

Thank you so much everyone!

I will put some netting on the blueberry bush but will pass on eating them. I got worried and bought a bug protector jacket for my husband and myself on Amazon just in case LOL.

If this does come to pass, I'll post pics ~ I'm hoping we aren't in the zone but being surrounded by trees probably isn't a good thing right now. I really appreciate the post regarding the roads possibly being slippery - I hadn't thought of that but will certainly be alert and stay indoors as much as possible.

OnlyMe · #23 05/08/13, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainlaurel

they are called locusts around here as well. The most memoriable one for me was in the third grade. School was still in and they were all over the playground

After a crazy year of weather even for New England including a winter of storms including the 36" doozy (that was only supposed to be 6") everyone has been talking about getting ready for the locusts - scary thing is that they could actually be coming.

(Scientifically I guess they aren't locusts but it's close enough for me).

Kelly · #24 05/08/13, 06:36 PM

We had the 13 year cicadas in 2011 and I videotaped a short video for anyone interested...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhvwLWwqwLs (I know, I need to quit talking when I'm taping....almost as nauseating as listening to the cicadas!)

Danaus29 · #25 05/08/13, 08:13 PM

I enjoyed the video. Thanks for posting it. Only thing missing was the chickens going after the cicadas.

At least cicadas won't eat everything in their path like true locusts.

salmonslayer · #26 05/08/13, 09:17 PM

Great video Kelly.

Freya · #27 05/09/13, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamahen

We had a hatch when my son was 6 (so 12 yrs ago). We had a new batch of pullets and he caught a gallon zip lock bag every day to feed them.....They thrived on the extra protein and started laying at 3 months!

So anyone that has chickens - get them ready!

I bet you could freeze a bunch and even dry them too!

OnlyMe · #28 05/09/13, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

We had the 13 year cicadas in 2011 and I videotaped a short video for anyone interested...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhvwLWwqwLs (I know, I need to quit talking when I'm taping....almost as nauseating as listening to the cicadas!)

Thank you for this ~ I now have a much better idea.

foxtrapper · #29 05/09/13, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnlyMe

Thank you so much everyone!

I will put some netting on the blueberry bush...

No reason to.

TRAILRIDER · #30 05/09/13, 09:58 AM

If you have ducks they will be in Heaven! My ducks were so full everyday they could barely stand upright. And the noise was over powering at my neighbors house 1/2 mile away, but reasonably quiet at my house.

Daybright · #31 05/09/13, 07:18 PM

My understanding is that adult cicadas don't even have mouthparts, so they will not be eating anyone's crops. I can see how it would be very loud, though.

Danaus29 · #32 05/09/13, 08:41 PM

They do have mouthparts. They still carry the piercing/sucking proboscis from their time underground sucking sap from tree roots. I have heard many times that they don't feed in the adult stage but have found this to be a misstatement. The ones I have had in captivity and the ones I photographed on my hardy almond tree were certainly feeding on the sap. Without food the adults die within hours.

The damage they cause is done by the female when she uses the ovipositor on her abdomen to split the bark on young twigs so she can lay eggs in the split. They can cause a lot of damage. My small tangerine tree was severely damaged by the egg laying process.