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Weblog / Message Board Archive 7/2002 - 7/2003

The Messages:

i was wondering

Date: Friday, Jul/25/2003

Message: are there Cicada's in michigan..? and if so do they build nest under the ground..? at my boyfriends house out by there one barn (he lives on a farm) there are bricks ont he ground by the service door and there are id say about 20-25 hold in the ground and large bee looking bugs coming in and out of them mvoing dirt and such..! they look sorta like the pictures i've seen of the Cicada's/..? if not would anyone know of another bee/bug that looks like the Cicada does..? thanks for any help... michelle chellibelli20@comcast.com -- michelle, flint,mi,

Cicada Killing Bees

Date: Thursday, Jul/24/2003

Message: Hi! CKB's have been visiting my yard since July of 1998. They are big, here by the hundreds, non agressive, dig holes, swarm in the heat of the day and leave in mid August.I have seen them carrying a Cicada bigger than they are and dragging it into the hole the bee has prepared. They are fasinating to watch. It is amazing how they have stayed in my yard and not gone into my neighbors yard,(for which they are grateful) even where the land come together and there is nothing to stop them from going there. I guess I am the choosen one!!!When they first appeared, I was frightened of them and knew nothing about them. I had them treated by a Professional exterminator which cost $150 and it did not faze them.The only down side, besides scaring the daylights out of those who do not know about them, is the dirt piles they leave, that become bare spots in my lawn. Areas where they have dug before, seen to have recovered nicely though.Anyone wanting info, may contact me at: MadonnaMa@aol.comDonna -- Donna, La Crosse, Wisconsin

First Day of Abundance for Tibicen chloromerus in Southern Maryland

Date: Tuesday, Jul/22/2003

Message: Even though T. chloromerus and lyricen have been calling sporadically since July 5, it wasn't until today they hit there normal calling peak. Driving to work this morning, I heard numerous T. chloromerus calling from the trees that lined the road for the first time this season. This event I call the First Day of Abundance usually occurs on or near the 4th of July! So, the cicadas still seem to be stuck in a three week time warp. Tibicen davisi, linnei and auletes have yet to begin calling! However Neocicada hieroglyphica has been more abundant this year and been heard calling from more localities than in the previous 8 years of recording cicada calls in this area. T. robinsonianus has begun calling in a few localities, but is not common. -- John Z, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic, Southern Maryland

Donating blood to capture Neocicadas

Date: Tuesday, Jul/22/2003

Message: Last Sunday, Wil Hersberger and his wife Donna, came down to Southern Maryland to get a photo of a live Neocicada hieroglyphica for a book project Wil is working on. For the past 8 years, a local population has been regularly calling near where I live. The only Neocicada I have ever been able to capture however, involved falling from the tree it was in and scrapping my leg in the process. I did capture him even though one of his wings was damaged. So when Wil asked to come down to capture a live Neocicada to photograph, I wasn't quite sure we would have any luck. Needless to say, the local population picked this year to stop calling! Luckily, 2 days before Wil arrived I began to hear loud choruses of Neocicada on a local navy base. We decided to try this site first. The Neocicada were very abundant, but seemed to be calling from high up in the trees. Chestnut Oak seemed to be the dominant tree species in each woodlot we heard the cicadas. Luckily we captured our first male on a small black cherry tree about 10 feet off the ground. We noticed that when the Neocicada choruses get going, they seem to pulsate as a group in a strange sounding chorus. We also observed that the captured male acted more like a horsefly than a cicada as it flew around in its cage. They also seemed to be calling everywhere, but were very hard to actually locate. Each male that was low enough for us to attempt to catch, seemed to evade capture at the last second. We tried a second site, and out of sheer luck I threw my insect net up about 20 feet along the side of a chestnut oak and it hit the tree 6 inches above a calling male! He flew straight into the net as it fell to the ground, screaming all the way down. I couldn't believe our luck! I think Wil was as shocked as I was! We were getting a little frustrated at our luck up to this point. Our third capture involved the blood shedding. As I climbed to attempt to capture our third calling male, I actually grabbed it with my bare hands out of frustration (too many branches prevented the use of a net), just before I fell down from the tree, scrapping my leg in the process! So there I stood, bleeding but elated that I had captured another Neocicada! I just wanted to relate that story, because most of the other species of annual cicadas come quite easily to lights, but Neocicada has been quite a challenge to capture. Wil took some great shots of the 3 males and you can view one of them at www.natureimagesandsounds.com/NH.html. I just wanted everyone to know there was a story behind that picture! -- John Z, Mid-Atlantic Cicadas, Southern Maryland

bugs

Date: Tuesday, Jul/22/2003

Message: One of my favorite bugs as a kid, I always look forward to their song in the summer. This seems to be a good year. The photos are great. I've never seen pictures of multiples marching along! 20 some years ago, when I was in an old-time band, we played at some festival in Ohio (?) where there were thousands in the woods. The chorus was so loud and they would land on you as you walked around. It was like the best of childhood - except I was an adult and the 'girls' were more interesting... and interested! But somehow, they still weren't impressed when you had a bug on your shirt. sigh Thanks for the great site -- jd, atlanta

Do cicadas bite?

Date: Sunday, Jul/20/2003

Message: I had a dark tree leaf green cicada land on my shorts (which were the same color), I showed my dad the two almost fang-like holes in my thigh. I didn't think that they bite. Maybe it was a spider. This particular cicada was about 1.3 inches and it wasn't moving very fast. It was scary.7-20-93 -- christian, Chicago

!!!!!!--------HELP!--------!!!!!!

Date: Friday, Jul/18/2003

Message: Does anyone know where I can find pictures really good pictures of cicadas with their wings spread open? I am trying to find more cicada photos like the ones found at www.thais.it/entomologia/I can't find good photots on a solid white background. Does anyone have any advice for websites? thanks, V. **** My email address: valenniansky@hotmail.com **** -- Valennia, NYC

!!!!!!--------HELP!--------!!!!!!

Date: Friday, Jul/18/2003

Message: Does anyone know where I can find pictures really good pictures of cicadas with their wings spread open? I am trying to find more cicada photos like the ones found at www.thais.it/entomologia/I can't find good photots on a solid white background. Does anyone have any advice for websites? thanks, V. -- Valennia, NYC

N. Calif. cicada

Date: Tuesday, Jul/15/2003

Message: Re my previous message: I have measured another cicada here and it has a 1" black body with touches of orange, and 1" wings. The mark on its back is an half-circle of 4 orange dots. Its eyes are dark gray-green. -G -- G, Alturas, Modoc Co., Calif.

Cicada Sighting

Date: Monday, Jul/14/2003

Message: Heard the cicadas in the trees the last few days. Finally saw one today on a hammock on our porch. Never saw any emerging from the ground.My last sighting of cicadas - 1968 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Thousands. -- John Dagg, Newhall, California

N. Calif. cicadas

Date: Monday, Jul/14/2003

Message: Site: Alturas, in Modoc Co., Calif. (close to Oreg. and Nev.) I grew up in Austin, Tex. with cicadas lulling every summer away with their rising-falling chorus as background music. We would see a few shells, see only a few adults. Same here in N. California. They've been singing for several weeks. And making very damaging slits (for eggs) in many new branches of our young apple, pear, cherry, and aspen trees. Cicadas, like so many things, are best if they remain in the background. But what can we do, we're all in this life together. I would like to know the name of "our" Tibicen cicadas here. The ones I've seen have black eyes and black bodies with touches of orange (thin stripe across the back, and on some joints.) The one I measured had a body 3/4" long, and wings 3/4" long. Thanks, -G -- G, Alturas, Modoc Co., CA

A big thanks to John Zyla

Date: Monday, Jul/14/2003

Message: This past weekend John was kind enough to lead me around to find some Neocicada hieroglyphicas. We were successful in capturing a few so that I could get some nice photos of a book project. John was great and I am certain that he will post a log of the days events :) Please check out the photo of N. hieroglyphica here: [url]http://www.natureimagesandsounds.com/NH.html[/url] -- Wil Hershberger, Hedgesville, WV

Re:Cicadas in Fields? Next year's brood X during our wedding.

Date: Monday, Jul/14/2003

Message: Mike, If the field was wooded 17 years ago, or there are wooded areas near by, you might have unexpected guests. Good luck, Wil -- Wil Hershberger, Hedgesville, WV

Need help identifying if this prehistoric looking creature is a cicada?

Date: Wednesday, Jul/9/2003

Message: We found a dying 'creature' outside that many of my friends have identified as cicada. We are currently experiencing flood levels and are wondering if he was carried in by the storms. I have yet to find a picture of it on the web. It is approximately 4.5 inches long and resembles cicada with the body,legs,wings, and eyes, and has some mean looking mandibles. Anyone want to view a picture of it, please email me. mmjjdd@email.com. Thanks. -- MD, Sidney, Ohio

Strange Creature in the Ground!!!

Date: Wednesday, Jul/9/2003

Message: The other day my kids saw a 1/2" to 1" hole in the ground outside our apartment. My daughter saw what she thought was a worm inside the hole. I told her to leave it alone because we didn't know what it was. The next day we knew it was not a worm. The 'creature' was near the top of the hole & I could see what looked like a beak & a beady eye looking out, & two 'hooks' with 'claws' under the 'beak' and eye. It looked strange, and we (our neighbor & I) didn't know what it was. A braver child from the complex dug it up & we saw that it had a shell like an armadillo (sp). I remembered seeing a shell like that on an episode of CSI & that it could be a cicada. It didn't make it, though; it died. After spotting that, I did some research & learned more about the cicada. Since that hole appeared (about 2 weeks ago) we have found about 7 more holes. I do not remember seeing these holes or cicada shells (we found one of those this morning) the last four years we have been here, & I see that the next brood is not supposed to be around here (Kentucky) until next year. Is it likely that there can be that many "pioneers" the year before? And aren't they emerging late in the season? (We have had a very very wet spring this year - near-record; & now it is very very dry...). Just curious! cecilre@yahoo.com -- Becky Cecil, Lexington, Kentucky

Annual Cicada season in Southern Maryland off to a slow start

Date: Wednesday, Jul/9/2003

Message: Although Tibicen chloromerus (Morning Cicada) and Tibicen lyricen (Lyric Cicada) both began calling on July 4th, (their latest start in 8 years) they are still sporadic and haven't begun their normal abundant calling yet. T. chloromerus is calling sporadically during the morning hours, N. hieroglyphica is still calling during the mid-day into evening and T. lyricen finishes out by calling near dusk. Tibicen davisi, linnei and robinsonianus have not been heard so far this season in Southern Maryland. -- John Z, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic, Southern Maryland

Cicadas in Fields? Next year's brood X during our wedding.

Date: Tuesday, Jul/8/2003

Message: My fiancee is concerned about our outdoor wedding next year on May 30th. It's about 30 miles north of Baltimore. From what I've read on the boards here, that will be right in the middle of Brood X's next coming out party. Cicada's typically come out in the woods, correct? So if our reception is in a field (near the water), we shouldn't have a large amount, right? Any help would be appreciated. -- Mike, Bel Air, MD

Followup on early emergence in Chicago

Date: Monday, Jul/7/2003

Message: Early last month I saw hundreds (perhaps thousands) emerge from my yard and the immediate vicinity over a 2 week period. I saw birds get most of them every morning. Apparently, they got all of them or something else did because I never heard any singing in the trees and I don't see any mature ones anywhere now. Strange. -- Ken, La Grange, IL

Cicada singing today, never heard here before

Date: Sunday, Jul/6/2003

Message: I grew up in Phoenix AZ and know what a Cicada sounds like so when I heard one today in my Dogwood in Portland Oregon I was mystified. Not only did I hear it I walked right up to the tree and could see it. Too high to grab and photo but I could clearly see it. I have lived here eighteen years and have never heard Cicadas before. I thought I heard one last year but decided I was crazy. -- LeeAnne, Portland Oregon

To Michael and his Mom

Date: Friday, Jul/4/2003

Message: We only heard the cicadas singing for about a week maybe a week and a half. I haven't heard any for a while now. I think the birds feasted on them until they were gone. We had flocks of seagulls all over our neighborhood that came just to eat them. When they couldn't find them on the ground they would fly and brush the branches of the trees with their wings to knock some out of the trees. It was fascinating to watch. The seagulls are gone now. As far as I know we have not had any mosquito spraying in our village. -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

Southern Maryland Annual Cicada Season Starts, Sort Of...

Date: Thursday, Jul/3/2003

Message: The first annual cicada for the season was heard last Saturday, June 28 in Saint Mary's County, Maryland. A male Neocicada heiroglyphica, a "July Screamer" was heard calling at 11:36am in Hollywood, MD (it was 76 degrees). This is almost 3 weeks later than normal over the last few years. As of today, July 3 no Tibicen chloromerus, davisi or lyricen has been heard yet. This is the latest in the season for the last eight years for all three species. This is two weeks later than normal so far... -- John Z, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic, Southern Maryland

Early June Emergence

Date: Thursday, Jul/3/2003

Message: My Son and I had the joy of seeing many cicadas early this last June. We brought some indoors and stayed up till 1am watching them transform. In the morning we let them go. A few of them could not seem to fully pull them out of their shell. Since I knew they would die anyway, we fed them to our lizard. One seemed perfectly fine but the wings never unfurled and hardened all curled up. The rest were all healthy and happy and sent on their way. We had a great time and found ALOT. The best time was right after sundown. You could walk down the sidewalk and see them cross the sidewalk, heading for a tree. Many climbed into my sons fort and up our shed wall. The weird thing is, it is now early July. I have not yet heard any "singing", and we thought we would have by now, especially since we saw so many. Could the mosquito spraying our city has been doing effected them? -- Michael and his Mom, Lombard, IL

Cicada sightings, or should I say, soundings.

Date: Wednesday, Jul/2/2003

Message: Hi,Just recently I have been hearing and seeing a number of cicadas in my neighborhood. I don't recall having ever seen them in this area and I've been living here since 1961. Are they indigenous to the region, freshly introduced, and/or of a transient nature. I wasn't sure about them so I caught one in a jar. I figured if it was the beginnning of a stoppable plague, why not stop it. Now that I see that these are not the only ones and that they've been seen here before, I'll let him go.BW -- Brian W, West San Fernando Valley, CA

Never seen before

Date: Wednesday, Jul/2/2003

Message: My husband and I live in las vegas Nevead and saw this thing on our patio. We had no idea what it was. So we got on the net to find out what it is. Where do they come from and does it migrate. We have never seen nor heard of this thing. Please let us know. -- chezerrae kaiser, Las vegas, NV

Saw a cicada on the deck today!

Date: Monday, Jun/30/2003

Message: I grew up in Phoenix where cicadas were common summertime occurances. I well remember the loud drone every hot summer day, coming from our Palo Verde tree shading the driveway. I've lived in South Carolina for 16 years, and have never seen or really thought about cicadas here. Until today. I walked out on the deck and saw one. As I stepped closer it flew away. I was amazed. Has anyone else in South Carolina seen any this season? Is it the kind that come out only every 13 or 17 years??? More info, please! -- Jean Pennington, Greenville, SC

Periodical Peak in Cincy

Date: Thursday, Jun/26/2003

Message: Tammy, The peak dates for Brood X of the periodical cicadas in Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic states will be from May 20 to June 20 depending on the weather. This will only happen once in 17 years in your location...I would stay home and enjoy and go out west on vacation after they are gone!!!! But that's me ;) -- John Z, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic

Response to Brandon from Louisiana

Date: Thursday, Jun/26/2003

Message: Brandon, If you can send a picture of the cicada (electronically) or if its dead, send it to me, I will gladly ID it for you. Please contact me at jzcicada@hotmail.com. Thanks. -- John Zyla, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic

Cicada

Date: Wednesday, Jun/25/2003

Message: My aunt found a really big Cicada in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 7, 2003. A bird had caught it and my aunt resqued it but it died. I can't find a picture of this exact one anywhere, but it is mostly black with dark orange and green on its head. -- Brandon, New Orleans, Louisiana

Rain Cicada picture

Date: Tuesday, Jun/24/2003

Message: Having moved to La Penita in January, I was not familiar with the song of the "rain cicada". It reminds me of the sound of the penny whistle made of tin that my grandfather gave me as a child.If you are familiar with this cicada, I would appreciate email info and a picture.Thanks,Joseph -- Joseph, La Penita, Nayarit, Mexico

Anyone know the peak dates for the 2004 emergence in Cincy

Date: Tuesday, Jun/24/2003

Message: We live in Cincy and are working to plan a trip out west next year. I'm not the fondest of Cicadas and would like for it to coincide with the 2004 emergence. Do any 'Experts' monitor this message board that could give me some clue as to the peak weeks that they will be 'out and About'?Any assistance is most appreciated! -- Tammy, Cincinnati, OH

First "annuals" of the year

Date: Monday, Jun/23/2003

Message: Heard my first "annual" cicadas last night (June 22) at dusk. They sang again this morning around 10:30 AM for less than a minute. Their calls last 10-20 seconds and are continuous in frequency without breaks. They don't seem affected by the cold spring we had in this part of the country. In a couple weeks there should be at least four species of "dog day" cicadas singing in my yard and the nearby woods. The louder, the better! Cicadas help drown out my redneck neighbors. -- Eric, East Central MO

CICADAS

Date: Saturday, Jun/21/2003

Message: CAN YOU KILL CICADAS, I MEAN IS THEIR A SPRAY NOT HARMFUL TO MY FRUIT TREES? -- SUSAN, VINTON VIRGINIA

Lisa from Cincinnati

Date: Thursday, Jun/19/2003

Message: Lisa - with the May 8, 2004 wedding....what have you found out about the cicadas around that date? -- PB, Cincinnati, Ohio

THEY'RE NEARLY GONE

Date: Wednesday, Jun/18/2003

Message: June 18 - 2003 - only a faint call of the cicadas remaining here - -- Marci, Dry Pond Virginia

Memory Lane

Date: Tuesday, Jun/17/2003

Message: I was 13 and living in Lombard when I experienced my first "invasion". My friend and I walked to the DuPage theatre clearing a path with a stick because the cycada's covered the road. It was wild. My daughter is now 13 and I can't wait for her to see them. She was born the year of the last invasion so she doesn't have a clue. That year (1990?) I was attacked by them as I trimmed the hedges with an electrical hedge trimmer. I guess they mistook me for one of them. Never did finish trimming that year. I can't remember if they are a terrible nuisence or not. I just remember being so amazed by the multitude of them! looking forward to another generation. -- Joanne, Glen Ellyn, Il

lots of cicadas

Date: Monday, Jun/16/2003

Message: I grew up in the city and saw only an occasional cicada in my 37 years. One of my goals for the summer was to work in my garden, which is now completely covered with cicadas. Every plant is blanketed in them and if I try to plant something new I only end up digging up a scoop of their writhing bodies. They creep me out to no end and I don't want to pass it on to my kids so I have to watch them pick them up or occasionally scrape their remains from my son's shoe. He is 2yrs old and I'm kind of concerned that he wants to stomp them and chant "crunch, crunch crunch!", but I guess that's another problem. Are thier crunched up shells good for the garden? -- claudia, Park Ridge, IL

The Testimony of a Cicada

Date: Monday, Jun/16/2003

Message: On 6/10/03 I was awakened in the middle of the night listening to the unfolding story of a Cicada. Here goes: For 17 long years I was held captive in a dark, lonely, cold earthen grave. Deep inside of me I knew that I was destined for other things. I had a desire to grow and move forward. The greater the desire came the louder the voices around me came. One said, "you need to be content where you are." Another said, "You are never going to make it." And even another said, "Just wait upon the Lord." I waited through 17 springs, summers, falls, and winters. I went through floods and did not drown. I went through fires and did not burn. My creator was with me all the time. One day a stirring began to happen within me. I began clawing my way upward through the earth. I had a determination that kept me digging - day after day, night after night. Finally the earth parted and I walked out into the light of day. I saw the sun shining on an old rugged tree in front of me. As I slowly made my way up the tree, I began feeling the weight of my old creature. I stopped and firmly planted my feet. After only a fleeting moment my old creature cracked open and the new creature came forth. I now had these two beautiful wings that were full of color and life. I basked in the light of the sun until my wings dried. I listened carefully for the voices of others like me. I knew my days were short on this side of earth so I flew quickly to where my family congregated. We all joined in together praising God in the Highest. I began hearing other voices saying, "They sound as though they are sounding an alarm", and others saying, "They sound as though they are praising their Creator." My Creator God gave me three wonderful days on this side of Heaven to sing praises unto Him with my voice. I wanted to sing the loudest of them all. I knew my three days of ministry represented the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost and after those precious days I would return unto my God who had truly created me as well as all other things. Also within those three days the creature part of me had to find my Soulmate in order to reproduce after my own kind. When all had been accomplished in God's time and order, my Spirit cried out, "It is finished." -- dcpnurse@aol.com, Chestnut Hill, N.C.

Northern Arizona Cicadas

Date: Monday, Jun/16/2003

Message: I came to your site to try and find info on how to eliminate or reduce the Cicadas at my home. There were no mention of Cicadas in the Southwest US or Arizona specifically.We have Cicadas every year starting in late May on our 3.1 acres. Some years are more than others but regardless every year the is an enormous ammount.This is our vacation cabin in Northern Arizona so we don't spend a lot of time there. This year I've gotten so disgusted with these creatures, not because of the noise or seeing them everywhere neccessarily, but because they spray some sort of fluid out of the trees in huge ammounts. Peeing? We were sitting outside in the late afternoon as the sun was going down and it was simply amazing and quite disgusting to see these huge sprays coming down from the trees with suprising frequency. We can't even walk around the property for fear of being peed on.The indigenous trees we have are Pinon Pine, Juniper(with blue berries), and Alligator Juniper(rough bark). These are all pines and do not loose there leaves.I don't know much about these creatures here in AZ, but if I could help you add any info to your web site I would be happy to.Does anyone have any ideas on reducing these creatures? I don't want to use pesticides because we drink from the ground water well.jeffwaters@cox.com -- Jeff Waters, Vernon, Arizona

ughhhh!

Date: Sunday, Jun/15/2003

Message: I survived these little suckers in MO and moved here and get to see them again. I'm an avid Mtn Biker and they are deafening when I go ride--I'm thinking about wearing earplugs from now on. -- Mary Dean, Blacksburg VA

Cicadas!

Date: Sunday, Jun/15/2003

Message: When I was a kid, finding a cicada shell was a big deal...but now, I've got loads of them! I saw several adult cicadas clinging to various flowers and plants in my yard yesterday. They're so cute, with their bulging red eyes! (I also saw many detached wings, which tells me that the local birds have also discovered the emergence!) -- Tina, Elmhurst, IL (west of Chicago)

cicada

Date: Sunday, Jun/15/2003

Message: got 20 of the little guys in the back yard on 6-12 and lots shells -- frank, westmont IL.

Cicada grub

Date: Sunday, Jun/15/2003

Message: Last week while digging Liriope near an oak tree in my yard, I dug up a grub about the size of the middle finger. Not having any idea what this might be, I put it in a paper cup to see would happen. Today I looked to find it has shed a layer and looks like a Cicada. It is an off white and only moves the back part a little to turn itself over. I know what the adult ones look like but haven't seen very many and have seen none this year so far. -- Sally, Washington DC USA

Can't hardly go outside

Date: Sunday, Jun/15/2003

Message: We have so many Circada's flying around we can't sit on our deck without several landing on us. The smell of dead Cicada's is so strong it is hard to go outside. We have apparently built our house on top of their home. The noise is so loud...it is driving me crazy. It starts at daylight and goes on all day till dusk. They are everwhere I look...any suggestions on how to get rid of them? -- Bonnie Humphries, Covington, Virginia

Cicadas everywhere!

Date: Saturday, Jun/14/2003

Message: While puttering with my flowers this morning, I notice hundreds of small cicada shells on the lowest branches of on of the trees near our house. The hatched cicadas are barely moving and are on my flower pots and along the foundation of the house. I tried poking them to see if they are alive, which indeed they are, but they don't move much. What's going on? Is this normal for this time of year in Chicago? I just moved to this area from Kansas City and have never seen this type of small cicada. -- Ramelle, Rich & Mimi, Elmhurst, IL, USA

Large number of cicada

Date: Saturday, Jun/14/2003

Message: Just noting that we have a larger than normal amount of Cicada shells in this near west Chicago suburb. We usually see one of two a year, today I am counting around 25 empty shells, a few full, and a couple hatched hanging around. Wondering if this is a small taste of what is to come over the next few years? -- Tom, Westchester, IL

cicadas are everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Saturday, Jun/14/2003

Message: i am 14 and i never seen a live cicada untill now and theres hundreds in my back yard and shells all over the trees i was wondering if its the 17 year hatching and if they are harmful -- sean, palos heights

Bugging Us

Date: Friday, Jun/13/2003

Message: We have seen several cicadas all over our yards -- on our porches, in our hostas, in the grass, on the trees, and on our houses and garages. -- Carol, Kevin & Michele, South Elmhurst

whoops...

Date: Friday, Jun/13/2003

Message: Sorry guys. I guess I could have worded my response a little better. Sometimes I forget what it was like as novice.... :-) BTW we have yet to see any annual cicadas here in Arkansas. Not even the Neocicada, and that one should have been out at least a week ago. weird... -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

Cicadas

Date: Friday, Jun/13/2003

Message: We found several discarded cicada shells in our backyard today. This is the 3rd year in our home and we've never seen these before. Just wondering if the 17 year Cicadas are back already...seems a bit soon?? -- Amy, Orland Park,IL

Early Emergence

Date: Thursday, Jun/12/2003

Message: Could the unusually frequent rain and rising water table be causing the cicada's to emerge early rather than drown? -- Jackie, Glen Ellyn, IL

early emergence

Date: Wednesday, Jun/11/2003

Message: I saw over 30 Cicada's today in my backyard on my flowers and along the back of my house. The last time I saw them was in either 1989 or 1990. Today is June 11 and it was in the high 60's and overcast. Is this an early emergence? They are most repulsive. Do I just let nature takes it's course or is there something I can do to eliminate them? -- Diane Martin, 1041 55th Street Downers Grove, IL 60515

Cicada ramblings

Date: Wednesday, Jun/11/2003

Message: I remember riding the school bus down 183rd St when it was just 2 lanes wide, and the bus was being pelted with cicadas dropping out of the trees that arched over the streets. This had to have been in either 70 or 71. Then I moved to Park Forest and bought a house on a heavily wooded lot, where the cidadas, when they next immerged, were so heavy that they would get in your hair and clothing when you walked the 10 feet from the house to the driveway. My friend's son was just a little guy then and he's 19 this year... so... based on my recollections, I think that the south suburb brood is really brood X and we're due for our heavy infestation in 2004. I too am seeing more than the usual number of cicadas this year, however, as is my friend who lives in Lansing. -- Sue Too, Park Forest, Il

I have periodical Cicadas emerging in my yard

Date: Wednesday, Jun/11/2003

Message: I've lived in my house since 1967. Our 17-year cicadas aren't due until 2007.I'm assuming the cicadas emerging this summer are an off-schedule 13-year brood.I haven't really heard of or seen too many outside my neighborhood in the rest of the northern suburbs. -- Sandy , Glenview, IL (North suburb of Chicago)

Chicago Cicadas

Date: Wednesday, Jun/11/2003

Message: Thanks for all of your notes about the cicadas out in the Chicago area. Theserecords are of particular interest for several reasons. Monte Lloyd and HankDybas, from a previous generation of cicada researchers, worked at the Universityof Chicago and the Field Museum. They noted a major advance emergence event in1969 (cicadas were expected in 1973). Since then, it's become evident that suchevents seem either to be rather common in Brood XIII, the Chicago cicadas, or,now that now that Lloyd and Dybas prompted us all to watch Chicago closely, theseevents happen everywhere, but we are less likely to miss them when they happen inan urban area like Chicago. Either way, we'd like to know, because theexplanation will reveal much about cicada life cycles.Good records can help sort this out-- if, every 17- years, the "straggling"cicadas always show up in a different spot, then that pattern would not be veryconsistent with a self-reproducing "shadow brood." If, on the other hand, thestragglers always show up in the same spot-- well, then we need to investigatethat spot further, because either there is a shadow brood, or something aboutthat spot makes cicadas consistently come out in advance.So this is a plea to all--If you find a straggling emergence of Magicicada in the Chicago area, and you canget GPS data, tape recordings, temperature data, physical description of site, and street address, I'd greatly appreciate it. If you can only get some of these things, please forwardthe information to:John CooleyDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology75 North Eagleville RoadThe University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT 06269Thanks, -- John, UCONN

Isn't it too early for the 17-year cicadas?

Date: Tuesday, Jun/10/2003

Message: Been in this house since 1987. I know that the last time around for the cicadas was a year or so after we moved in. So does anyone have any idea why these guys are emerging. My kids think they're very interesting and are not freaked out. But I was just wondering. -- Monica , Glen Ellyn

Sandy, don't worry now

Date: Tuesday, Jun/10/2003

Message: From what I have learned recently the cicadas that have come out this year are early ermergers. The numbers that are out now are nothing compared to what we will see in 2007. And Kirk, I was suprised too that there was nothing on the news about the cicadas. But I think, and I could be wrong, that they have only come out in the older western suburbs and southern suburbs. Does anyone have seagulls flying around their neighborhood? -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

Just a little nervous...

Date: Tuesday, Jun/10/2003

Message: I've spotted these guys crawling about in my lawn. This morning I counted over 50 in a 10x10 area. I'm relatively new to this community but I've been told that everything is covered during a cycle-including the streets! -- Sandy, Riverside, Illinois

Early Emergence

Date: Tuesday, Jun/10/2003

Message: We also have been seeing a large number of cicadas with the largest number emerging(at least for now) on Saturday (June 7). The emergence is large enough that I am surprised there has not been anything on the news. -- Kirk LaGory, Downers Grove, IL

Response to Barbara of Catonsville, MD

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: Barbara, you are experiencing a one year "acceleration" of Brood X. The main emergence will occur next year in Maryland from DC to Baltimore west to Frostburg. Four years ago, many isolated localities in this same area, experienced a four year acceleration or a "coming out early" of Brood X. This is one of the things that has made mapping out all of the Broods so "challenging"!! But the picture is getting clearer. -- John Zyla, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic

Steve Bradley from Staunton, VA

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: Steve, after mapping out Brood IX last week, the northernmost sites in Va were Salem and southweatern Roanoke. Your record for Staunton, Augusta county is of particular interest. This is a good distance from Brood IX and in the heart of Brood I. You are in an area however, where an isolated pocket of Brood X has occurred in the past and you may be experiencing a one-year acceleration of Brood X. If so, you should also have periodical cicadas occurring again next year. Could you please send me more details on where you are located? I would like to confirm whether this to be true or not. jzcicada@hotmail.com. Thanks. -- John Zyla , Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic

cicadas

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: John, tell your wife to get a life. What is her problem, its a little bug for crying out loud. Does she have a sister who has a problem with bugs too? They usually travel in pairs, like shopping or something. Do you have a dog thats afraid of thunder too? Why dont you just pack it up and leave. Also, be careful if you have a pool too, ducks like to get in there and we wouldnt want that to happen either!!! -- Percy, Downers Grove

Their Here

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: We had cicades emerging about one week ago. We live in a wooded area of the city on the western boundry. Everyone I talk to that lives within about a 30 mile radius have seen none. Even my friends that live in Staunton have not heard them. We are about 100 miles north of Roanoke where I read of many sightings. Is this unusual? We seem to have a "pocket" population. -- steve bradley, staunton, va

Cicada singing

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: I heard the cicadas singing for the first time this morning after my walk. Now that I have my doors open I can hear them on and off. -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

Bugged out

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: I am glad to have found this site because I wasn't sure what those insects were! I am a bit "bugged" by them but I'm glad to hear that they aren't harmful. Not only are they covering my maples but also hanging on the leaves of my lilac bushes, hostas, newly planted annuals and even on the air conditioning unit! But why don't I hear them "singing"? -- Anna, Homewood, IL

off-year periodical cicadas

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: From scanning the messages it seems to me that the west and south suburbs of Chicago are experiencing some sort of early emergence phenomenon. On Sunday I too found a periodical cicada four years early. This is interesting. -- Kate, Westmont, IL

My cute cicada.

Date: Monday, Jun/9/2003

Message: One day, I found a cicada on my deck. It looked injured, so I decided to keep it. She can't fly. One day, I wanted to let her free. We put her in a cup and put it on our side walk. When she crawled out, she turned and started crawling back to me! So from then on, I took good care of her. -- Megan, Middletown,Ohio, united States

Possible sighting of periodical cicada skins at Brookfield Zoo

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: My kids and I found some cicada skins and dead nymphs on June 9 at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois (east and a bit north of LaGrange). They were shorter and much skinnier than the annual cicada skins we find later in the summer. It was too cool and wet to hear any adults singing, so we wondered what we had found. Now we suspect the invasion of periodical cicadas may have made it to Brookfield. My kids didn't find any similar skins (or adults) the day before in Oak Park, several miles northeast of Brookfield (despite playing outside that whole warm, dry day). So, I wonder if we'll be able to define a limit to the early emergence.Eric of Kids' Cicada Hunt!http://www.saltthesandbox.com/cicada_hunt/ -- Eric Gyllenhaal, Oak Park, Illinois, USA

A message for Dog owners

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: Every year we get messages from dog owners asking if it's safe for their dogs to eat cicadas. Based on 100s of posts and emails I would say 'maybe'. Dogs, by their very nature have little or no self control, so they are in danger of gorging themselves, or choking. The one thing that hurts dogs and other pets the most is pesticide. Owners or neighbors react to the cicadas by spraying copious amounts of pesticides in an effort to stop the cicadas, but they end up poisoning the dogs instead. So eating a cicada won't kill your dog, but gorging, choking and pesticides will. -- Dan, Cicadaville

Nicey, nice!

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: Nick, be nice to the novices. Your last message was a little condescending. You're right about Brood XIII by the way, but "stragglers" come after a main emergence. Should we call the pre-emergers "pioneers"? -- Dan, Cicadaville

way too many for my comfort

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: I too live in Downers Grove, IL and have hudnreds in my yard. I went out this morning to have my coffee in our yard. I was sitting under an old oak tree when I noticed hundreds of shells, both occupied and empty. I decided to return inside when I heard a crunch under foot and saw tons of them in my lawn. I'm glad I found this site. When will the cicadas leave/die? -- carol, downers grove, IL

To John in Downers Grove

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: The periodical cicada you see in your yard now is usually gone by mid-July. 2007 will be our big year when these cicadas come out much heavier than they are now. -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

Cicada's in Downers Grove - How Long Will They Last?

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: Our trees, deck, plants, etc. are entirely covered by Cicada's. Unfortunately, my wife has a major phobia of all bugs which has not made the last several days very enjoyable. Are the Cicada's expected to be around the entire Summer? -- John, Downers Grove, IL

Seagulls swoop in for feast!

Date: Sunday, Jun/8/2003

Message: Yesterday the seagulls discovered the tastey cicadas in our neighborhood. Flocks of 15-20 flew down the street, landing in yards and devouring any cicadas they could find. It was quite a sight! -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

australias largest cicada

Date: Saturday, Jun/7/2003

Message: Hi,I have a cicada that I'd like to know the latin name of. It is a huge (BL = 7cm, WS=20cm)tan brown Cicada that I believe is Australian? I have searcvhed the web and not had much luch with finding any web pages with photo's. If anybody either knows the name of it (from my poor description - hey there may only be one cicada of that size in Australia?!)or any pages that might help? could the let me know?Thanks in advanceJ -- Jay McCartney, Palmy New Zealand

Is this one just a stray??

Date: Saturday, Jun/7/2003

Message: I found a lovely cicada corpse on my porch the oother day-I wish I could claim to love these cyclic red-eyed ones as much as the yearly...Was this just a stray or is this the year for Maryland? i've lost count.Thanks. PS These stories about dogs getting ill from locusts worries my-my labs eat EVERYTHING!! -- Barbara, Catonsville, Md

Rick

Date: Saturday, Jun/7/2003

Message: It wouldn't "feel" like Brood XIII because this wouldn't be the main emergence. If these cicadas are from XIII, and I can't imagine what other brood they would be, they are four year early stragglers and are thus only a small fraction of the main colony. The main emergence will be in 2007 and should be much more profound than what you're seeing now. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

I do not think it is Brood XIII

Date: Saturday, Jun/7/2003

Message: This does not feel like Brood XIII. I have been here for 2 emergences of Brood XIII. 1990 felt light when compared to 1973, but it had been a cold and damp spring in 1990 (somewhat like this year). 1990 seemed to be half of 1973, and this seems to be half of 1990. -- rick, Flossmoor

Lots of cicadas

Date: Saturday, Jun/7/2003

Message: Daylilies leaves are covered with emergence shells. But the cicadas are smaller than I can ever remember. They are about 3.5 cm (~ 1 inch ) all with bright orange eyes. Any idea what sp.? -- Steve, Hinsdale, IL

Cicadas, everywhere!

Date: Friday, Jun/6/2003

Message: I have three maple trees, all three are covered. I am glad to have found this site and to have seen the post from Flossmoor. My trees look just like Sue's posted pictures! -- Monica, Homewood, Illinois

Chicago Brood X?

Date: Friday, Jun/6/2003

Message: Most likely, if not definitely, it is Brood XIII 4 years early. The 4-year accelerations and decelerations are fairly common in the 17 year broods. Not only that, Brood XIII is the only well-established brood in the Chicago area. Brood X doesn't stretch quite that far north and west; the closest it gets would be MAYBE the south side along the Indiana border. And that's a big maybe. Brood III, meanwhile, occupies the other side of Illinois; nowhere near Chicago. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

Chicago Early Emergence

Date: Friday, Jun/6/2003

Message: IL folks: It sounds like brood X, XIII or XIX is making en early emergence. Probably brood X, which is due next year. Every now and then magicicadas emerge ahead of, or after the time they're supposed to. -- Dan, Cicadaville

Agreement with last post regarding "due" in Chicago

Date: Friday, Jun/6/2003

Message: I agree with the previous post regarding the fact that I also can't find any broods "due" this year in the western burbs of Chicago. I've lived here for 10 years and have always seen some come out every year (usually later when it's warmer out), but never on the scale I'm seeing now. This reminds me of the 1990 brood. -- Ken, La Grange, IL

Another Western Springs Report

Date: Friday, Jun/6/2003

Message: There are hundreds on our trees that we noticed this morning. Why are they "early"? I was looking up the same things as others in the western IL suburbs and can't find either a 13-year or 17-year that's "due" this year. Anyone know which type they are? -- Sue Spear, Western Springs, IL

Pics of periodic cicadas

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: Here are some pics from the trees in my front yard that are filled with these cicadas.Go to this address...http://www.spookywhatsqueeks.com/cicada -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

Cicada doggy treats?

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: One of my dogs is gobbling down cicada like popcorn since they began emerging a couple of weeks ago. Do they contain any potentially harmful bacterium, nematodes,other parasitic infective agents, or disease organism?I know people eat them---really? But I assume they fry them first.thanks,john -- John Havran, blacksburg va usa

they're back

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: This is the first time I've experiencedthis. Are they also called locusts?We live in a rural area and our propertyborders a national forest and we have thousands of these little critters.Yesterday when I walked out on my back porch I was literally attacked.I've seen them now in all stages and they just started singing yesterday.My husband says it sound like the sound track from 'Species'. -- Joanie, Atkins, Va USA

stupid dog

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: Our Jack Russell dog began having wild looking seizures after coming out of the woods the other day. He vomited 5 almost whole cicadas. Who knows how many he digested. We took him to the vet to be checked out. When we asked her what was wrong with him she said, "He's just stupid. He ate too many bugs."The sight and sound of these insects inthe woods is beautiful. When this sound is mixed with the whipoorwills and other woodsy creatures, it is a marvelous symphony. -- Debbie Snavely, Marion, Virginia, Smyth County

Hundreds on my front tree!

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: Today is especially nice weather and I noticed a few in my back yard on the deck and such - went to the from yard and there are literally hundreds on my front pine tree (which won't do them any good I I understand - not a leaf dropper)! Looking at the charts I don't see Illinois listed for 2003 so I thought I would mention it here. -- Joe Hudetz, Western Springs, IL

many emerging in Chicago western suburbs

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: As I left my house this morning, I saw dozens on my exterior walls and drivway emerging from their shells or crawling out of the ground. Something triggered them to come out last night I guess. -- Ken, La Grange, IL

Locusts in "Bloom"

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: The 'Locust' phenomenom in our county is incredible. I didn't realize it was a big deal, I just found it odd. Then my husband ask that I get on-line to find out how long they live. That led me to this site and then within two days our local paper ran an article on the front page complete with recipes! I would like to submit a link to a photograph on my family web-site of one of my hostas covered with the little critters. They are cute, and the noise is quite deafening here on our little hill-top. This has been fun and quite a topic of conversation! Here's the link http://groups.msn.com/thewilburns/latestphotos.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1219Donna -- Donna, Rich Creek, Giles Co., Virginia

Love is in the air at Philpott Lake and Dam

Date: Thursday, Jun/5/2003

Message: Jose - Read your post...Love is in the air at Philpott Lake. (We are next door to Fairy Stone). You are invited to camp with us and enjoy the Cicada Concerta. Our Environmental Ed Ranger will be happy to share information with campers about our lovely music makers. (As I type this, I am currently listening to radio transmission of our staff - and our communication have an odd "HUM" to them...I didn't realize just how much the insects are impacting our lives. When you spend so much of your time outdoors you get immune to them after awhile and don't even "hear" them any more. It will seem so strange when they are gone) -- Park Ranger Susan Traxel, Philpott Lake, Bassett, VA

Magicicada emerging this evening

Date: Wednesday, Jun/4/2003

Message: As I went for a walk this evening I noticed quite a few periodic cicadas emerging in the grass, crawling on the sidewalks and on the trunks of trees. This is not our year for the 17 year brood. We should not have them until 2007. Has anyone else in the Chicago area seeing these cicadas? -- Sue, Flossmoor, IL

Cicadas everywhere.

Date: Tuesday, Jun/3/2003

Message: Never saw so many cicadas molting. Some tall clumps of grass have half a dozen hanging on. They're on almost every type of plant. Incredible hum from the woods, but in our yard, they are silent. Our two puppies eat them like nothing is better. Unfortunately, one of them seems to be allergic. I don't know how to keep him away from them without staying indoors. I hope the cicadas won't eat too much!! -- Diana Renfro, Grassy Creek, NC

Made it down to the VA Cicada Concert......

Date: Monday, Jun/2/2003

Message: We drove 9 hours south to experience the magicicada emergence this past weekend. Camping at Fairy Stone state park proved to be a good move as the park is full of adult cicadas and some still coming up. I was disappointed with the park employees who had very little information or knowledge of cicadas even though the sound echoed all around. These cicada are not as loud as the ones Ive heard in Costa Rica which make a sound that arches up in pitch and volume and finally one long high ear piercing screach. The magicicada sound more relaxed to me, like a tame symphony of new york city sirens........ I will post some photos and sound bites in the next week or so. JC -- Jose Conde, NEW YORK

I wondered what that was

Date: Monday, Jun/2/2003

Message: I just came up to the lake yesterday afternoon and heard the background music. It was so loud and present that I thought someone had left something runnning. But then I heard it all around the lake, so knew it was natural. I didn't think that it was the cicada phenomenon because I recall last time that they were actually louder. And, I haven't seem them buzzing all around either, which also is different. But, the "surround sound" was so much like cicadas that I mentioned the phenomenon this morning to a business colleague who was not familiar with it. By the way, SML, VA is just down the road from Ferrum (about 30-40 miles east - see previous posting). So, maybe I'll hear them when I go back to North Carolina this afternoon. Enjoy nature's symphony! -- Chris, Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Anyone have any earplugs?

Date: Monday, Jun/2/2003

Message: Wow the cicadas here are getting really really loud! While talking on the phone..my sister could here them through it! Had to come in yesterday while trying to plant tomatoes...they were in my hair and the sound was almost deafening! Even brought one in on my shoulder. You can look out the window and see them flying around everywhere! -- Carla, Ferrum, Va.

Thanks...

Date: Sunday, Jun/1/2003

Message: ...for the pics Dottie. BTW has anyone seen Magicicada cassini out there? Certainly there are plenty of M. septendecim singing (the one that sounds like the "space aliens," as some people describe it :P). I just wondered if the cassini were out there. They're the loud rising and falling buzz. If anyone happens to run across a bunch of them, watch them synchronize their chorus. It's really cool. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

Cicada photos

Date: Sunday, Jun/1/2003

Message: I was very lucky to be in White Sulphur Springs, WV last week.I was able to take lots of Cicada photos. To view a few of them go to:http://homepage.mac.com/dottiesphotos/PhotoAlbum36.htmlEnjoy, Dottie -- Dottie Tison, Los Angeles, CA

Cicadas

Date: Sunday, Jun/1/2003

Message: I am coming home to Northern Va and Richmond for the 2nd week in July. Does anyone know my chances of seeing/hearing them or will the party be over? -- Ellen, Yorkshire, England

Mapping out Brood IX in WV and Va

Date: Saturday, May/31/2003

Message: Just started the first day of a three day search for the boundaries of Brood IX in Virginia and West Virginia. There were no Magicicada along I-64 through Va until we reached White Sulfur Springs in Greenbrier Co., West Virginia. Despite periodic rains we have collected voucher specimens for Greenbrier and Monroe, WV and Giles Co, Va. Tomorrow we travel down I-81 to I-77 to define the western boundary. Monday, we will travel back through the Martinsville, Va area to determine the eastern boundary. Thankfully, Cindy in NC is driving around determining the southern boundary in NC. The WV Dept of AG is determining the northern boundary. Looks like things should come together for an awesome map! If weather is nicer I will try to get photos for you Nick. -- John Zyla, Cicadas of the MidAtlantic

Locusts

Date: Saturday, May/31/2003

Message: Visit this link for a picture of a locust: http://www.unic.undp.com/locusts.htm -- Locusts look exactly like grasshoppers. -- Dan, Cicadaville

The diffrence between Cicada and Locusts

Date: Saturday, May/31/2003

Message: I have some people around here who think that the Cicada "jar fly" and Locust are the same, I know they are not but I need diffinative proof they are not, "pictures" and disscriptions of what they are would be great! Anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Michelle -- Michelle , spanishburg W.V.

You guys are having all the fun...

Date: Saturday, May/31/2003

Message: If anyone happens to get any good Magicicada pics could you email them to me? stnick127@collegeclub.com Wish I could be out there this year. :( -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

They're here ...

Date: Saturday, May/31/2003

Message: Dry Pond Virginia - 2 miles from the NC border - cicadas have been here for 2 weeks now ..... -- Marci Shore, Dry Pond Virginia

Stuart VA

Date: Friday, May/30/2003

Message: They are alive and well, I have some land in VA and when I visited this weekthe noise was amazing....like grinding bearings -- Mark, Kernersville/nc

They're Everywhere! They're Everywhere!

Date: Friday, May/30/2003

Message: I happened to run across this sight, and just thought I'd share... About 2 weeks ago I heard this 'noise' that I just couldn't figure out. Sounded like a diesel engine running in the distance, across the ridge. But then it just kept on & on. After a few days of this I realized what I was hearing. We have hundreds of Cicada 'molting' on our property. On the sides of the house, trees and just everywhere you turn, they're there. (Our new mama cat thinks they are quite tasty, will have to keep an eye on her & make sure that she doesn't overdo it!) And even though they are staying around, they are not singing in our yard. Can't figure out why? But thank goodness they are not. It is absolutely unreal. Even though this is a 'magical' sound, it must be deafening for those who are in the middle of this symphony. I know that there must be many people around here that can't wait for the song to end. Sometimes they do get a little louder and I think "Oh no they're coming our way!" But I think it is due to the changes in the weather, which has been really crazy around here for this time of year. It seems like I remember the typical dog-day Cicada singing in the evening hours, but these are wide open all day long. -- DJ, Millers Creek, NC (Wilkes County)

You guys are so lucky

Date: Friday, May/30/2003

Message: Man I wish I could see the emergence all you guys are talking about.I have been trying to get my hands on some of your Magicicada species, but so far to no avail.If any collecter is keen on exchanging your Usa, Canadian etc cicadas for my New Zealand ones I am keen to do so, although I must warn you that we have only a small amount of species in comparison to you guys, that Brazilian cicada is a beautiful species, nice photo.Just leave a message if anyone is keen, and i'll get intouch -- Kees Green, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand

Glad I found this site !

Date: Thursday, May/29/2003

Message: I'm so glad I found your site and the pictures. I thought I'd found some mutant cicada while cutting weeds this evening - I'd never seen one with red eyes and bright markings! - only drabber coloring. No one I know appreciates how excited I get about a beautiful bug, but I know you guys do. Thanks. :o) -- Courtney Haynes, Bland VA (near Bluefield VA/WV)

what kind??

Date: Thursday, May/29/2003

Message: We seem to have something that becomes a very intricate black and white patterned mothlike adult./ anyone have any input on this?? -- Barbara, callands virginai

Cicadas Cicadas Everywhere!!

Date: Thursday, May/29/2003

Message: Just wanted to post and let everyone know that here in Mt. Airy, NC the Cicadas have been out for a couple of weeks. Their buzzing has grown louder and louder each day. I can look out my backdoor and watch them flying all around. One landed about a foot from my son and I the other morning on our deck. It sat on the railing and continued singing its song. It was a really neat moment and it opened up an excellent opportunity for my son and I to do a little web research and learn more about these amazing insects. -- DM, Mount Airy, NC

reporter seeking cicada fans

Date: Thursday, May/29/2003

Message: I'm a reporter with The Roanoke Times in Virginia and I'm doing a story on the emerging cidadas. I'd love to talk to some folks who are paying attention to them and watching them as they come out of their 17-year sleep. Please email me ASAP with a day and night contact number and I'll give you a call. Or call me. Thanks!761-9990 or zeke.barlow@roanoke.com -- zeke barlow, roanoke

Weird Stuff

Date: Wednesday, May/28/2003

Message: I'm 21 and this is the first time I can remember seeing these little critters out and about. I remember when I was real little we'd go out and find the sheds. It was always fun. But now it is kinda creepy seeing all these huge bugs crawling all over the trees. Have to admit though, they are rather beautiful with those red eyes. I'd like them better if they weren't crawling on my screens and porch and some have even managed to sneak into my house. I'm wondering how long they are going to stick around. Hope it's not too long, they might wear out their welcome. -- Alisha, Jumping Branch WV

Cicadas emerging

Date: Wednesday, May/28/2003

Message: Am trying to determine the actual species of the cicadas that are emerging now and have been for a week or so. I don't know if they are of the 13 or 17 year variety.Noisy little critters, but enjoyable. I saw them once when I was a kid in Utah ...I'm now 53. -- David L. Hargreaves, Cedaredge, Colorado

length of 'stay'

Date: Wednesday, May/28/2003

Message: All of you who are in the midst of the 17 year cicadas........let us know how long they are around. -- PB, Cincinnati, Ohio

They're Everywhere, They're Everywhere

Date: Monday, May/26/2003

Message: Well, here we are just off Highway 89 between Mount Airy, N. C. and Galax, Virginia. Just here for a visit with my grandma. We live in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee. I cannot believe the deafening sound of the locust "flapping" their wings. It sounds like an alien spacecraft landing in the trees out behind my grandma's house. There's shells all over the front and back porches. My dad caught one by the wings and showed me an up-close cicada/locust. Don's want any part of them. I think we're going home earlier just to avoid loco mania. My dad said he remembered the locust plague in Surry County during the early '50's. So, they're right on time, 51 years later. Signed: Jennifer from Tennessee or "Going Home to Maintain my Sanity" -- Jennifer, Mount Airy, N. C.

CICADA

Date: Monday, May/26/2003

Message: WE HAVE THEM EVERYWHERE -- DSKELLY1942@YAHOO.COM, PAX WVA FAYETTECOUNTY

Locusts (Cicada)

Date: Sunday, May/25/2003

Message: For two weeks now the cicada has come forth and we have thousands of them. I know they were supposed to appear this year or next. This is the fourth time I have seen them in mass 4 times in my life. I am 60 years in age. Have always delighted in their appearance. They are so ugly but are a very interesting creature. There is an old saying that they call Phraoh and have an M on each wing, a sign from God of the great story in the old Testament. If you listen to the din they set up during the day you can usually hear on making a sound that sounds like the name Phraoh and they do have an M on their wings. Thought you might be interested.Jay -- Jay Parks, Martinsville, VA 24112

holy crap

Date: Sunday, May/25/2003

Message: They're everywhere! Found a few, thought, 'oh these are so cool'. I was mowing the yard and I'm stopping, picking 'em up and moving them. (why yes, when I mow it takes forever because of the the bug, turtle, toad, etc temporary relocations)Then......I found a billion. My screams of 'EW EW EW' deafened dogs in the next county.Please reassure me they aren't gonna eat me in my sleep.*movin to France* -- Caroline, Christiansburg, VA

unbelievable!!!

Date: Sunday, May/25/2003

Message: Our friends and family just can't imagine what we are talking about when we try to tell them over the phone what we are seeing here! It is unbelievable to see the number of these things (I was glad to see in your web site, the number mentioned as possibly reaching hundreds of thousands, if not millions! Currently they are covering the sides of buildings; on every tree in the yard; all over the grass (making the grass seem "alive" with all the movement); and covering the patio, deck, and sidewalks - have given up trying to keep them swept away! And the dogs are eating their fill of them -- seems as though it's a special treat - like popcorn!I called the local agricultural extension agent to ask about them and his response was, "well, some folks get them every now and then. you can just take some Sevin and kill them if you want to." He obviously did not understand the magnitude of the "problem" and I told him I didn't want to kill them if they were not harmful. And, besides, it would take a tanker-truck full of Sevin to kill as many as we have!I am SOOO glad to have found this very informative web site! Thank you. Now I am going to forward this information to our children so they won't think we are crazy! or exaggerating!For the record, the cicadas began emerging here a couple of weeks ago (around May 12)and we were extremely interested; by last weekend they were very much a nuisance with "shells" all over the place, making the crunch underfoot as we walked; okay, so now, even though we are thrilled to have seen this only-every-17-year occurrence, we are ready for the event to be over. The noise is so loud, it is annoying when we try to have quiet time on the deck in the evening! And the odor of decay is beginning to be very unpleasant. However, considering our age, we are hopeful to still be around during the next emergence!! -- Dottye and Walt Currin, Westfield, Stokes County, NC, USA

Cicada's everywhere!

Date: Sunday, May/25/2003

Message: Just stumbled upon this website, looks like it has everything I needed to know about Cicada's. I had always heard them referred to as Locusts though, so that threw me off. I believe I was 7 the last time they came through so it would be right on the money at 17 years apart. Very ugly critters and LOUD! lol Did some mowing yesterday and noticed out in the field all the shells they left behind after they would molt. Glad to see more people from my area on here. -- Chris, McGrady, NC

Thick and singing

Date: Saturday, May/24/2003

Message: They've been here about 2 weeks but have just started the past couple days getting really thick. -- C, Ferrum, VA. USA

Loudest Insect in New Zealand

Date: Friday, May/23/2003

Message: This is for Rosa Lee Temu.The loudest Insect in New Zealand is in fact a Cicada, it is called The Greater clicking Cicada, or its scientific name is Amphipsalta zealandica.Its the large cicada that you see in summer on lamposts, houses, trees etc.I hope this helps and its not to late -- Kees Green, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand

W & P

Date: Friday, May/23/2003

Message: Does anybody read the FAQs?http://www.cicadamania.com/faq.html#a1 -- Dan, Townsville, NJ

p and w

Date: Thursday, May/22/2003

Message: have you ever heard the thing a bout the p and the w on the wing the w means that it will be war in the 17 yr pd. and the p means that it will be peace in the 17 yr. pd just worndering e-mail me at evil_lilly@hotmail.comP.S.: the "locust" is starting to come out down here. -- Randall lilly, camp creek, wv

Cicadas Everywhere

Date: Thursday, May/22/2003

Message: The population continues to grow with each passing day! Rain has apparently slowed their wing development but probably thousands on my one acre of land. VA Tech says should be around in some numbers until mid to late June!Virginia is for Lovers (and Cicadas):) -- Dave, Salem, VA

Will the Cicadas still be there June 7

Date: Wednesday, May/21/2003

Message: I am planning to get down to Virginia , Roanoke /Appalachain trail area to see hear and record magicicada. How long will the emergence most likely last????Please email me at jlc3d@aol.com...much appreciated.Jose Conde -- Jose Conde, Brooklyn, NY

Will be plotting Ennice on our map

Date: Wednesday, May/21/2003

Message: Thanks for reporting, Stephanie! We'll be in your area over the weekend plotting our map for John. We'll be sure to drive through Ennice. :-) My son captured his first cicada today and let me tell you, this guy has been the center of attention all afternoon! He's a beauty!! -- Cindy, near Hays, NC - Wilkes County

Thank you Stephanie!

Date: Wednesday, May/21/2003

Message: Thanks for your report Stephanie. If anyone else in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia has seen the emnergence of periodical cicadas, please leave a message on this website with your town, county and state. Thank you. -- John Zyla, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic

Happy to help, John

Date: Wednesday, May/21/2003

Message: John, I just read your message about reporting cicada appearances. Thought I would include the county in NC where I'm located. They're everywhere here! -- Stephanie, Ennice, Alleghany County, NC

They're everywhere!

Date: Wednesday, May/21/2003

Message: I noticed them crawling on the trees and molting last night, this morning they're all over the trees and bushes around here! -- Stephanie, Ennice, NC

Hi Luci...

Date: Monday, May/19/2003

Message: Have you noticed the cicadas seem to be rather quiet and sparse during the rain? We haven't heard or seen them nearly as much the past several days as we did earlier last week when it was warm & sunny. I hope they're not leaving us already. :-) -- Cindy, near Hays, NC

Cicada

Date: Monday, May/19/2003

Message: We have lots and lots of Cicadas covering all my trees and crawling about. I can honestly say I'm not too thrilled about this, they are a big problem with my trees. They are already swarming about. -- Lrm, Hinton WV

I don't know yet

Date: Monday, May/19/2003

Message: This is a quzeWich is the insect that makes the most nose out of New Zealand?I am a student that gose to primary.I am only 9 years old.I am a stande 4.FROM ROSA LEE TEMU -- Rosa leeTemu, Auckland Glen Iness

They are here!!

Date: Saturday, May/17/2003

Message: Woke up yesterday to hundreds (maybe thousands) of these cicadas. Shells & live ones currently all over everything! How long does this infestation last and should I try to kill or just let nature run its course?Best regards from western VA,Dave -- Dave, Roanoke, VA

Re: Ann

Date: Friday, May/16/2003

Message: They are brood IX. -- Brian P., KY, USA

Magicicada

Date: Friday, May/16/2003

Message: We've got plenty here, on trees, walls etc. What brood might they be? -- Ann, Roanoke, VA

EzBoard Cicada Forum

Date: Friday, May/16/2003

Message: I have a Cicada message board at http://pub207.ezboard.com/bplanetcicadaDiscuss and share... -- Brian P., Ky, USA

Magicicada septendecula!

Date: Friday, May/16/2003

Message: I heard a male M. septendecula singing this afternoon(May 16, 2003)at 4:15 p.m.! I listened and followed the solitary male about 15 minutes as it flew from tree to tree singing. This area is brood XIV country, so I was surprised to hear one this year. Brian (cicadaguy@email.com) -- Brian P., Northeast KY (Carter Co.)

cicadas here

Date: Friday, May/16/2003

Message: There are many cicadas in this location right now. They started appearing last weekend. They're all over the yards and singing to beat the band. -- Luci, North Wilkesboro, NC, USA

We'd be delighted

Date: Thursday, May/15/2003

Message: to help, John. I emailed you and look forward to learning more! -- Cindy, near Hays, NC

Cicada in Arizona

Date: Thursday, May/15/2003

Message: We found an adult cicada while visiting the Grand Canyon on April 30th. We didn't know what we had found--nor did the rangers. We've just identified it here, and wonder if they are common in Arizona? -- Deb , Santa Cruz, CA

Cindy, will you be willing to do some research?

Date: Thursday, May/15/2003

Message: Cindy, If you and your children would be interested in participating in a study of the cicadas in your area please e-mail me at jzcicada@hotmail.com. Thank you. -- John Zyla, Maryland, Cicadas of the MidAtlantic

Judy Relax!!!

Date: Thursday, May/15/2003

Message: Judy,The is nothing mentioned in the Bible about cicadas. Every Periodical cicada has a "w" mark on each wing, so there is nothing to the story that they predict war. Also, it is impossible for them to bite, they only have a straw like mouth part. Nothing to worry about! -- John Zyla, Maryland, Cicadas of the MidAtlantic

cicadas are here

Date: Wednesday, May/14/2003

Message: Hi Judy. I've read the cicadas aren't dangerous in any way, and won't bite or sting unless they mistake you for a twig in which case they might bite. As annoying as they are, I'm trying to find the beauty God intended in their mighty choruses and my homeschooled children and I are in for an awesome science lesson this year! Here's hoping we can all find joy & pleasure in the cicadas. -- Cindy, Hays, NC

LOCUSTS

Date: Wednesday, May/14/2003

Message: All you people who want to see these things, just come on down to Carolina. The woods are infested. The ground and the trees and plants are just crawling with the ugly bugs. If anyone can tell me how to terminate them other than walking around outside with a big Long!!! stick, please tell me. I hate bugs. -- judy, THURMOND, NORTH CAROLINA

locusts

Date: Wednesday, May/14/2003

Message: These things are everywhere. Has anyone noticed that they all have a " W " on their wings? I think according to the Bible this means 7 years of War. If they have a P on the wing it means 7 years of peace. Does anyone out there know if this is true biblically or not? Also, one of the varmits bit me and I would like to know if there is any danger in it's bite? If you can answer any of these questions, please email me a jsparks@rivercto.com. -- JUDY, THURMOND, NORTH CAROLINA

What weeks in 2004 will the cicadas appear?

Date: Wednesday, May/14/2003

Message: The 17 year cicadas are due in Cincinnati in 2004. Does anyone know what weeks or months? -- M Bailey, Cincinnati, Ohio

Please report localities of 2003 Periodical Cicadas

Date: Monday, May/12/2003

Message: I am doing research on the cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic. I am very interested in mapping out the distribuion of periodical cicadas in this area. As some of you may know, this year Brood IX is emerging in southern WV, western Va and northwestern North Carolina. If you live in these areas and have Periodical Cicadas occuring between now and the middle of June, please left a message on this website with the nearest town, the county and the state where you have found the cicadas. Thank you. -- John Zyla, Maryland, Cicadas of the Mid-Atlantic

Cicada Sighting

Date: Monday, May/12/2003

Message: They are everywhere.Bought the property with my son in law about 3 years ago (22 acres)It was clear cut of most timber just prior to us bying it, but that is not keeping the Cicada's away. -- Bud Molnar, Purlear, NC

Periodical cicadas

Date: Monday, May/12/2003

Message: Yesterday morning we found that several cicadas had emerged and molted in our flower bed and the nearest tree. Never seen this type before, wonderful to find out they are periodical ones, not the typical dog day. Have several questions: Why are they just located in one isolated area of my yard? How can I determine which brood this is? Looks like they may be a 17 yr, brood IX (2003) but may be brood X (2004) stragglers. How can I get a more detailed map of my area to determine this info and what species this may be? Sorry about all the questions but my kids and I are very excited about this since we love and appreciate these guys. Any help would be great.PS It amazes me how ignorant people are about these cool insects. Everyone needs to see this site. -- Jen, Francisco, Stokes Co, NC, USA

Cicada "Plague" May 8 2004

Date: Friday, May/9/2003

Message: Dear Lisa In reference your wedding plans for May 2004 and worry about a cicada "plague".The Cicadas will emerge naturally and majestically after 17 years living as lowly grubs. They will come out of the ground with slick new wings and a black shine in mass numbers. They will sing beautifully for a few days, mate, lay eggs and die. There kind will not be seen in Cinci for another 17 years!A cicada emegence is no plague, it is a cause for myth and celebration. I would consider there presence at my wedding a blessing from nature. The true "plague" is human overpopulation, pollution, environmental destruction, and the ignorance of mankind. The best thing you can do is welcome the cicadas to your wedding......you won't have to hire a band!!!!!! Jose Conde , NYC -- JConde, NYC

Date: Monday, Apr/28/2003

Message: -- ,

cicadas in 2004

Date: Monday, Apr/28/2003

Message: Please - I need some advice/help. I am planning on outdoor wedding in cincinnati for May 8, 2004....and I learned about the cicada "plague" coming to cincinnati "around May 20" in 2004 and learned of this website. Can anyone tell me if this is an accurate date? Or am I taking a huge risk with May 8th? What happens in the weeks prior to the "plague"? Please advise - thanks so much, lisa -- Lisa, cincinnati, OH

Cicada keychain

Date: Sunday, Apr/13/2003

Message: Hi there! I just read something in your news archive talking about an elusive "Cicada keychain" that buzzes and lights up!!! Do you know where I could get my hands on 1 of these? Also, hows about making some girl-size shirts of all of the t-shirt designs? I really want the ash-grey shirt!!! Thanks a lot. Please reply to yellowmonday@hotmail.com if possible -- Laura, Australia

cicadas emerging pt. 2

Date: Thursday, Apr/3/2003

Message: Please send responses to delynnewest@yahoo.com -- Delynne, Benton, AR

cicadas emerging?

Date: Thursday, Apr/3/2003

Message: We have a lot of holes in our yard that just appeared in the past week. Is it possible these are from cicadas? Is April too early?Thanks for any help! -- Delynne, Benton, AR

Henry Thoreau at Staten Island, 1843

Date: Wednesday, Mar/19/2003

Message: Hello,Henry Thoreau reported the cicada in the summer of 1843 in Staten Island, and wrote to his sister Helen to ask if Concord (MASS) had them; I am wondering the same--would there have been an episode in that part of New England in 1843?Thanks -- Kevin Dann, Woodstock, VT

Get rid of those Cicada's without harm!

Date: Friday, Mar/14/2003

Message: As all animal and nature lovers, those little (and sometimes big) cicadas drive me nuts sometimes! I have developed a non lethal way to rid your garden and home of the cicada. The ingredients are 100% natural. My formula is safe and non-toxic, is domestic animal friendly and will not harm wildlife or plantlife. This product will be available very soon! You may send me an email for more information to: N8KKP@aol.com -- Kevin, Cincinnati, OH USA

First Cicadas

Date: Thursday, Mar/13/2003

Message: I am anxiously awaiting the news of the first Cicadas in North Americo north of Mexico. When and where do they appear? What are the common early species?In our area (Texas Panhandle) Cacama valvata appears in May. Do any appear in April or earlier?johnne@netjava.com -- Wes Phillips, Fritch, Texas

How to shut these bloody things up

Date: Sunday, Mar/2/2003

Message: Our backyard has become infested with these horrible things and my kids are terrified of them. It os not possible to hold a conversation in the garden as there are so many making so much noise. I am into electronics and wondered if anyone knows of ANY sort of audio signal that will make them either shut up or fly away. They give me the creeps and remind me of that 60's Hitchcock film about the crows. Any advice greatly appreciated. owen@medistat.co.nz -- Owen, Nelson, NZ

cicadas - when???

Date: Friday, Feb/28/2003

Message: Our daughter will be planning a wedding and I know the 17 cicadas are due the summer of 2004 in Cincinnati. I sure don't want a bride covered with cicadas (although she LOVES them!!) Can you tell me what months they come and how long they stay and when they are the worst?THANKS SO MUCH!!! -- Peg Bailey, Cincinnati, Ohio

Is it true you can tell the air temperature from the cicada sound??

Date: Thursday, Feb/13/2003

Message: email address for the above question: jader@telus.com -- maureen, Vancouver, Canada

Is it true you can tell the air temperature from the cicada sound??

Date: Thursday, Feb/13/2003

Message: I have heard it said that you can calculate the air temperature from the frequency and duration of the cicada's buzz. Does anyone know about this? The geographic area of interest re: this question is N Ontario, Canada between Algonquin Park and Ottawa. We go to a camp in that area and the cicada calls are very loud on a hot day. I would like to be able to calculate the temp. Thank you. -- maureen, Vancouver, Canada

I'm sorry that I forgot putting my address in.

Date: Friday, Jan/31/2003

Message: dog5092@hanmail.comI look forward to receivingyour reply. -- Bryan Oh, Mt.Vernon WA

I need your help

Date: Friday, Jan/31/2003

Message: I am an international student.Please understand me. I am not good at English. My English is not good enough to read all of your web site.I have to do homework about a cicada.I need some information about a cicada.1, Can a cicada fly?2. What kind of insects kill it?3. How many kinds of cicadas are there in the world?4. How many parts of a cicada's body are separated ?5. Does a cicada live alone?6. Can a cicada see?I would appreciate if you would give me other informations about a cicada.Thank you very much. -- Bryan Oh, Mt.Vernon WA

for Violet from Indianapolis

Date: Friday, Jan/24/2003

Message: It might be too late for your project, but here is a piece of info. My second grader is doing a science project on the cicadas (we actually observed them in the summer 2002 in Southern Illinois), and among the books we found to do research, this one is a good source: John Golding Myers, Insect Singers: A Natural History of the cicadas. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1929 It has lots of drawings and details. Hope it helps you. -- Margarita, St. Louis. MO

ANZAC DAY TOURS 2003

Date: Thursday, Jan/23/2003

Message: TOUR PROGRAMMES: TOUR A 5 Days - 4 Nights Istanbul and Gallipoli : All transportations and transfers with new model Mercedes Benz or Volvo coaches - All ferry tickets to cross Dardanelles. - 2 Nights of Accommodation at Canakkale - 2 Nights of Accommodation at Istanbul - 1 Full day Istanbul sightseeing tour with - English speaker professional tour guide - 1 Full day Gallipoli Peninsula tour with English speaker professional tour guide - All Museum tickets - Guidance and assistance during the Anzac Day ceremonies more...Fatihfatih@istanbulshotels.com www.istanbulshotels.com -- Fatih, Istanbul

Look forward to the modifications

Date: Saturday, Jan/18/2003

Message: Hi John, I hope things are going well for you, Cant wait until the pics and sounds are available. -- Kees, New Zealand

Adult Cicadas Do Feed

Date: Thursday, Jan/9/2003

Message: Hi all--Was reading through some literature and came across yet another statement that adult cicadas do not feed. This is NOT TRUE! I have put a photo of an adult Magicicada septendecula feeding (borrowed from our old U. Mich. pages) on my own web page (http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~jcooley/index.htmls). This photo has been on our Michigan website since the beginning, but I guess it needs a little more emphasis!By the way, we will probably not be changing or upgrading the U. Michigan pages for the foreseeable future, because we are busy upgrading "Cicada Central" here at U. CONN. Much of the Magicicada-specific content of the UMICH pages will be appearing on Cicada Central, with vastly improved distribution maps in the works. Cicada Central will also have sounds and photos of NZ cicadas, and eventually, Australian cicadas. Stay tuned! -- John Cooley, Connecticut

Picture Contest

Date: Monday, Jan/6/2003

Message: Some years ago there was a picture contest on the Cicada Mania website.All of the different pictures were available from the website. I used one of them as my wallpaper for my pc.If these pictures are still available, I'd like to download them once again.Regards, Daniel Miller sawdust_studio@hotmail.com -- Daniel Miller, South Dakota

Any Cicada Societies?

Date: Wednesday, Dec/25/2002

Message: Does anyone know of any cicada societies I can join to get information/newsletters about cicadas? -- Ted, Westchester, NY

NZ Cicadas

Date: Monday, Dec/16/2002

Message: Opps I see there are NZ sites. -- Kees, New Zealand

NZ Cicadas

Date: Monday, Dec/16/2002

Message: Hi David and Lindsay. Well the cicadas in NZ are really starting to emerge now, the larger species ( Amphisalta's ) are starting to make the presence heard while drowning out the smaller species. Its good to see you guys got some rain at last to dampen down the hot spots and stop the fires. I hope the rest of your season goes well and the cicada numbers will recover, they probably will though, nature has its ways of sorting itself out and arent fires a natural part of the Australian ecosystem?.Its good to see that there are links to the Aussie sites here now, all we need now is links to the NZ site.It would also be nice to no that there are more than 3 of us Australasian cicada people that frequent this site every now and then. -- Kees, New Zealand

Australia Cicada Links

Date: Saturday, Dec/7/2002

Message: We've added a bunch of Australian Cicada links to the Links page! Check it out! -- Dan (Cicada Expert!), New Jersey

Sydney cicadas fired up and out

Date: Thursday, Dec/5/2002

Message: Kees and Lindsay, There are a quite a few Antipodean cicadaphiles. Fierce bushfires in the past few days have endangered quite a few collecting sites (let alone getting in and out of sites) around Sydney. Emergences have been 3-4 weeks early, still numbers of Cyclochila, Thopha saccata and Macrotristria angularis about. Smaller Pauropsaltas and Cicadettas have come and gone; P moerens just emerging, but need rain urgently. -- David, Sydney, Australia

Cicada website has moved

Date: Tuesday, Dec/3/2002

Message: The Australian cicada website has moved to www.zen.uq.edu.au/entomology/ins-info/cicada.htmHi Kees. Its just getting drier here, but there has been some rain in north Queensland. The cicadas are suffering this year. Although I heard today that the El Nino weather pattern will start to change over the next few months, meaning that there will be more rain next summer. -- Lindsay, Brisbane, Australia

How many Kiwis and Aussies cicada enthusiasts

Date: Friday, Nov/29/2002

Message: I was just wondering how many of us Australasians there are that frequent this site. It could be nice and interesting to hear from each other and see how we are all doing this summer, I no that you Aussies are amidst youre worst drought for a while so your season may not be so fruitiful.Here in NZ ( Auckland ), I just caught 3 species in a 5 minute walk- N. sericea, K. muta aotea and K.ochrina and heard/saw our noisest cicada Amphisalta zealandica.How are the rest of us going? -- Kees, New Zealand

Meaning of the Origin for the Latin rootword for "cicada"

Date: Monday, Nov/18/2002

Message: Does anyone out there have any info on the meaning of the origin of the Latin root word for cicada? I need to know if the root word is related to the root word for circle. Any etymological documentation or info link one can offer would be much appreciated. Thanks! -- Nenita Ostman, PVE, CA USA

i need your hellllp]

Date: Saturday, Nov/16/2002

Message: man i need to know how to draw a cicada for a report any tips or sights please tell me -- idiot, voorhees,new jersey, america

Giant black wasps!

Date: Saturday, Nov/9/2002

Message: This last summer I was working alone in the office at night. I heard this noise like something hitting the wall in the hallway. I went to the hall and saw this unbelievably "HUGE" very long black wasp! It had to be "at least" 3 inches long! Has anyone ever seen one of these giants? Thanks, Dink. -- Dink, Mobile

Cicadas in Albuquerque

Date: Friday, Nov/8/2002

Message: Does anybody know what type of cicadas we have in Albuquerque? They're brown and black and white, but the white seems to be a powder. They have three little red dots on their foreheads, and their eyes are not red or black.The Albuquerque Journal mentioned they came around in three-year cycles; one year in three their numbers are more, but they are around every year.This sounds like a species of Tibicen, from the single hour of research I've done on the web tonight. Anybody? -- Luke Allen, Albuquerque, NM USA

Ceramic cicadas?

Date: Tuesday, Oct/29/2002

Message: I was in Arles, France, a few years ago and they worship the cigale there. There were all sorts of ceramic locust figures for hanging on the wall. Does anyone know where I can order one of these on-line? Thanks. -- Jane Robertson, California, MO 65018

Help

Date: Saturday, Oct/26/2002

Message: I'm writing a report for school on cicadas. i need the copyright info for this site. I also need to know what the cicadas closest relative is and how their different from each other. I need the info asap!!! -- j, Texas

new web site of art comics

Date: Thursday, Oct/24/2002

Message: You can find it here:http://www.peruviancomics.cjb.com -- carlos, Peru

Cicadas

Date: Saturday, Oct/19/2002

Message: Can someone tell me what the predators are for cicadas! Thanks -- Cody J., Ayer, MA 01432

How The Hell....

Date: Saturday, Oct/19/2002

Message: Hi people, i had always been awed by cicadas and i know the usual sounds they make, like a song, repeating over and over again. Well i never had been close up to a cicada before and one just appeared outside my window and it 'singing' its cicada song, and damn it was really loud close up. Well, i assume that cicadas have 2 pairs of wongs because i did not see its outer bugger wings move when it 'sang'. And i also noticed that it moved it's butt up or down every change of the note, i suppose to change the friction of the inner wings rubbing against it's 'butt'. I am not so sure about this but please e-mail me at kensheex@hotmail.com to inform me more about how they do that sound. -- Mah Chen Zhong, Singapore

I enjoy the sound of cicadas they remind me of the fun times I had at my grand mother's house in Lousiana

Date: Thursday, Oct/17/2002

Message: 10/17/02 I want all the information in the world about cicadas Thank you Kathy my email address is kathydelrio@yahoo.com -- Kathy Del Rio, 1845 Kendall St. #319 Lakewood CO 80214

Pompone imperatoria

Date: Friday, Oct/4/2002

Message: Where do I buy eggs of Pompone imperatoria? -- Gustavo, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

Species in our area

Date: Friday, Oct/4/2002

Message: We have two types in Ennis. One is an orange and black color being larger than the most common green, white, and black. Can't believe they live in the ground for 16 years and only a few days when they come out. Love to listen to them and drink a cool one. -- Tony Vitovsky, Ennis TX USA

cicada predators

Date: Thursday, Oct/3/2002

Message: Here in NZ its mainly birds, but also wasps, cats and dogs and humans. Humans by destroying habitats. -- Kees , New Zealand

Q's

Date: Wednesday, Oct/2/2002

Message: What are cicada's main predators????? -- Someone., Usa

NZ Cicadas

Date: Wednesday, Oct/2/2002

Message: Well Owen unfortunately I missed my first one, would have been a new species for me to. I am still not sure what species of Kikihia it was but I'm sure I'll catch a few of his friends. Good to hear that your season is going well Lindsay, by the way I think everyone should check out your website, it is amazing, hopefully I will send the cicadas to David next week, there could be a couple in there for you to, especially Notopsalta sericea, but there will be more later for you anyway.I hope you guys get some rain soon to end that drought your having, rain doesnt seem to be a problem here in Auckland, its my first year here and I dont think I have seen so much rain. Catchya later -- Kees, New Zealand

Aus cicadas

Date: Sunday, Sep/29/2002

Message: It is shaping up to be a promising season in south-east Queensland, with large emergences of a number of species so far. Although, dry conditions may affect the timing of emergences in inland districts. The first species to emerge in SeQld are Cicadetta hackeri and Birrima varians. These normally emerge in early-mid August. More info at www.zen.uq.edu.au/entomology/index.htm -- Lindsay, Brisbane, Australia

Australian Cicadas

Date: Saturday, Sep/28/2002

Message: I'm just letting people know that its cicada season again in Australia...mainly in reply to Kees' (NZ) message. I caught my 1st cicada of the season last Saturday. -- Owen, Sydney, Australia

Cicada season

Date: Friday, Sep/27/2002

Message: All you Northern Hemisphere citizens will be hearing the last of our noisy friends while us down in the better half of the world will be just starting to hear that familiar sound of our beautiful cicada friends.I cannot wait for that sound and look forward to another season of observing and collecting. It will be nice to see perhaps more messages left by Australian and NZ'ers which I can relate better to. -- Kees, Auckland, New Zealand

cicada are back

Date: Thursday, Sep/26/2002

Message: I have seen a few since I got back to school the beginning of September. The two I saw, were on the ground not moving. A friend of mine told me she saw one hanging on to her door. I remember about 1986 when the cicadas were here last time in large numbers. When do they plan on returning like that? -- Jill, York, PA

Saw my first Cicada!

Date: Saturday, Sep/21/2002

Message: I saw this thing sitting on a sidewalk at about (9/18/02) 9:30am. It wasn't moving at all. I had NO IDEA what the heck this giant insect was (it was about 1n inch to an inch and a half big at the body with a huge wingspan). I watched it as I decorated the front of our store for fall, cautioning people to be careful as the walked past. One customer accidentally brushed it and it flipped over. That's when the activity started. It slowly started moving it's legs, then it would flap it's wings like mad trying to right itself. It did this for about 3 minutes before someone stepped on it. I was obsessed with trying to find out what it was and just found cicada photos this morning. -- NORM, Youngstown, OH

Cicada found

Date: Tuesday, Sep/17/2002

Message: While leaving work last Friday there was a cicada sitting on the path out of the plant, he appeared very sluggish but moved quickly after I moved him into a nearby tree. This was at about 1130 pm and it was getting cool outside. -- Dave Hannam, Buffalo, NY

oh ya! say yes.

Date: Sunday, Sep/15/2002

Message: please will you have sex with me! i don't care if you're a boy or girl,cause' i do both if someone really wants to have sex.please say yes please ! e-mal me with your answer at jennifer boop 9 @ hotmail.com. myou know u want it come and get it! -- becky hamolton, poulsbo,WA . USA

cicada

Date: Friday, Sep/13/2002

Message: how do yuo tell if there male or female?I think males have pointed abdomans and the females have opened ones am I right? -- keith, mosouri

im so sick of these darn cicadas

Date: Friday, Sep/13/2002

Message: i live just south of tulsa, oklahoma and have tons of cicadas taking over my place. just seeing one makes me shiver. if they didn't buzz so loud they wouldnt be so scary. HOW DO I GET RID OF THESE THINGS???? and if i can't get rid of them, when are they going to leave?? -- wendy peeples, okmulgee, oklahoma, usa

Where can I find cicada in san jose?

Date: Thursday, Sep/12/2002

Message: The girl that I like want to listen to cicada when she sleeps, where can i find some to put it in her backyard?? -- Michael, San jose, CA, USA

Cicadas at my wedding?

Date: Thursday, Sep/12/2002

Message: I am getting married in Rappahanok County, specifically Castleton, in June 2003. Will there be cicadas crawling on the cake and guests? Should I change the date to April? -- MSY, Castleton, VA

Cicada's in CT this year

Date: Thursday, Sep/12/2002

Message: I noted that no one said they would be out this year and I've seen two types. First, the one we all know as the 17-year Cicada (large fly with long orange wings and big eyes) and then locust's which I just find out today is another type of Cicada.Just lettin ya know! -- Billie Jo Anderson, West Haven, CT USA

Katydids EVERYWHERE

Date: Wednesday, Sep/11/2002

Message: Yeah, I know this has nothing to do with cicadas but here in northeast Arkansas we are in a plague of katydids, most likely Conocephalus; the little green ones with the whitish or yellowish wings. They're EVERYWHERE by the thousands. They especially like to hang out around stores and restaureants in town with glass windows. I went through the drive-thru at Burger King last night and had at least a dozen of them clinging to my car by the time I had gotten my order. Anyway, I just thought I'd mention it. Like I said, it has nothing to do with cicadas, but it's interesting nonetheless. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

cicada flight

Date: Wednesday, Sep/11/2002

Message: Does anybody out there hava a photo or know where I can get one of a periodical cicada in flight? -- Breck, Ames, IA

cicadia

Date: Monday, Sep/9/2002

Message: what do you feed a cicadia if you catch one and are trying to keep it for a science project? -- spud, manchester nh

Cicada emerges on tire of Model T

Date: Saturday, Sep/7/2002

Message: While working under the model T a cicada emerged on the tire. Within an hour the wings were full and beginning to darken. Couldn't test drive the car because it hadn't left yet! -- Tom, Lapeer MI

What did they find?

Date: Saturday, Sep/7/2002

Message: A very long time ago my daughter found a giant fly. "There must be a mad scientist around here that's working on flies in his lab" I captured the "fly" in a jar - it was hanging on a bath towel on the clothes line. We took it to the agriculture extention service in Clementon where we found out it was a cidada. Now my grandchildren found something hanging on their swing. It looked like a giant locust with claws. They're 6 and called it a monster beetle. It looked like it was dried up and when I moved it with a stick it just dropped and sounded hollow. Someone told me it was a stage of the cicada. Could this be what the holes all over my yard were that I treated because I had grubs? -- Mary, Berlin Borough, NJ USA

Found 2

Date: Thursday, Sep/5/2002

Message: My sons are doing a bug project for school and have found 2 Cicadas. On was in our yard and one was found on the other side of town. Both were alread dead. I never know what they were. But my 10 year olds did. -- Regina, Birmingham, Al

JZ responses to Mary in Louisiana

Date: Thursday, Sep/5/2002

Message: Mary, the cicada your daughter found in Baton Rouge was probably an annnual cicada since the periodicals that emerged this year were long gone by then. There are 13 species of annual cicadas that have been recorded in the Baton Rouge area, so there were many potential candidates. -- John Z, Maryland

JZ responds to Larry from Baltimore

Date: Thursday, Sep/5/2002

Message: Yes, Larry you are correct in that periodical cicadas (Brood X)are due to emerge in the Baltimore, Washington, DC and western Maryland area in 2004. The adults usually become obvious around mid-May and will be dead by the 1st of July. They can & do eat, but breeding is of utmost concern. You can keep them alive for a few days if you can give them fresh tree twigs that can still draw water from a vase or jar. -- John Z, Maryland

Man what a huge bug!

Date: Thursday, Sep/5/2002

Message: I didn't know what it was so I capture'd it hoping it might be that alien bug never before seen that was eating people in India Last month in August. So I got on the internet I think I found it, it's a Cicida, but this thing is huge 2 inches long and an inch wide and made one heck of a very loud noise when I captered it. It's a camflauged color of a dark and light green color could be from the foilage it eats. -- Alan, Lorretto, MN.

bugs

Date: Wednesday, Sep/4/2002

Message: im doing a sculpture project that just so happens to contain a cicada in it and i need to know wher i can find scientific diagrams of this insect. i keep looking and i havent turned up a thing except for a poorly drawn cicada in the michigan thing. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 -- violet, Indianapolis

Freaked Out

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: I had to run out to my car for something and when I ran back up the stairs I saw a dark figure by the mailbox on the house and when I came up on it, it was a CICADA. I got freaked out and ran back down the stairs until my father got it to fly away. Why are so many people excited about this huge alien looking creature? -- KKH, Riverdale, MD

origin

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: where did the cicada originate? -- Ashley Branch, Kennett, MO

Periodic Cicada 2004?

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: Unless I lost a year somewhere I believe the next 17 year brood will emerge in 2004. My question is: Do the adults ever eat? From what I remember of 1970 and 1987 they just mate and die if the birds don't get to them first. Is there anyway to extend their adult life more than a few days? Very interesting insects and not as scary as people are led to believe. -- Larry, Baltimore, MD

Killing Cicadas

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: A Teacher's Edition Algebra 2 book dropped from a height of 4 feet works well when trying to kill a Cicada. -- Eric Redenbo, Cisne, IL

Question

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: What type of cicada emerges with peachy colored body and very light green wings? There are pictures on the site, but not a tech. name with it. We fould several (22) exoskelitons and watched one emerge last thur. in Beloit, WI. -- Marcy, IL

Australian cicada site

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: Have you seen the new cicada site from Australia? The address is as follows:http://www.zen.uq.edu.au/entomology/Kind regards, Matija -- Matija Gogala, Slovenia

AMAZING - CICADA IN BATON ROUGE

Date: Tuesday, Sep/3/2002

Message: My daughter, Melissa, who attends LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, called me one night (August 11, 2002) to tell me that there was a bug outside of her door. (She lives in a small apartmetn complex.) She said the bug was so big and was making so much noise that she was afraid to go outside. Well, eventually she did leave for class and mentioned what happened to a classmate. The classmade excitedly proceeded to tell her that what she had seen was a cicada and mentioned that the cicada emerged every 13 to 17 years. She, of course, is happy now that she knows what bug was making the noise. She now remembers hearing the same type of noise at our home in New Orleans many, many years ago. But since their appearance is not an annual ritual in this area, that I am aware of, maybe we should enjoy this emergence. In another month or so, when things return to quite, we will have forgotten all about them. -- Mary Holmes, New Orleans, Louisiana

cicadas

Date: Monday, Sep/2/2002

Message: what is the latin name for cicadas and any others that you know? -- Hannah, Bethesda,Maryland

In my house

Date: Monday, Sep/2/2002

Message: I have one in my house right now and my cats have found it and are 'playing with it right now. Is that a problem? -- Steve, Northlake, Il, U.S.

IT'S INPORTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Saturday, Aug/31/2002

Message: I have a homework assigment heres the question: Insects called cicadas spend moast of there lives underground. Many come above ground nley every 13 or17 yrs. In North Ameica people call 13 & 17 locusts. 12 14 or 16 year locusts? EMail me at erinleigh@attbi.com Thanks -- Erinleigh, Helena MT USA

JZ responds to Rebecca from VA

Date: Saturday, Aug/31/2002

Message: The three little dots on the cicadas head are actually eyes called "ocelli". They are only sensative enough to be able to distinguish between light and dark. It is believed that they assist the insect to distinguish shapes and large objects while in flight. -- John Z, Maryland

Thank you

Date: Friday, Aug/30/2002

Message: We found a cicada and were able to watch and video tape its coming-out-party. Our fourth grade daughter was able to take it to school today with the video tape to share with her classmates. I printed out your frequently asked questions and sent it with her as well. You do a great job with answering the questions and adding some good humor. We thoroughly enjoyed your web page. Thank you. -- Gale , Illinois

? what are the bindi like features on a cicada's head?

Date: Thursday, Aug/29/2002

Message: In Fredricksburg VA cicadas are dropping out of the trees...well like flies. I've seen hundreds, and I'm curious as to what the 3 small copper colored shiny dots are between the insects eyes. I couldn't find an answer at the library. -- Rebecca, Virginia

T. linnei now abundant in the evenings

Date: Tuesday, Aug/27/2002

Message: Over the last week, the transition of T. lyricen being the dominant caller in the evenings to T. linnei as the dominant calling species has taken place here in Southern Maryland. Also of note, T. chloromera has been calling more this year in the afternoon and into the evenings than compared to the past few years. My guess: the very high humidity and continuous high temperatures (many 90 deg days) starting in the early morning hours. Whenever a cold front comes through and the temps get cooler, that evening and the following morning chloromera doesn't call. -- John, Maryland

Australian cicada website

Date: Tuesday, Aug/27/2002

Message: Hi. I'm based at the University of Queensland. This is a comprehensive site with information on Australian cicadas, images, sounds, links etc.Enjoy!www.zen.uq.edu.au/entomology -- Lindsay, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Looking for their husks

Date: Monday, Aug/26/2002

Message: Great sight! I am an artist in RI and have for the past two years been collecting the husks of the cicada- this year I have found over 200 - I am interested in making a sculpture with them- if anyone would like to collect these husks and send them to me along with your thoughts on the insect I would be very happy-- my address is 11 Job st. Providence RI 02904 Thanks Pat -- P Bennett, Providence, RI

The Cicada killer wasps

Date: Sunday, Aug/25/2002

Message: The Cicada Killer Wasps have take over my hill...I havn't seen a cicada in months and the wasps are scaring me...Send help and exterminater -- not telling, I'm near boston,MA

What brood would be emerging in MA this year?

Date: Saturday, Aug/24/2002

Message: We've found evidence of cicadas outside our workplace in Burlington, MA, and it started me to look into them. I see that they cycle in "broods". What brood would be appearing in Massachusetts in August, 2002? -- Kim Avery, Chelmsford, MA, USA

Found One!

Date: Friday, Aug/23/2002

Message: Hi there,Out in the park with the kids and found this massive bug, a bit wounded, struggling through the grass. I am pretty sure that it is a Tibicen Auletes, does this make sense? Dark green, brown and black markings that I must say look extremely cool. It's underside has what looks like a white dusting surrounding dark brown/black and green; legs are light green.Send me some info as the kids and I are nursing this critter back to health in a box. What do they eat? I am assuming leaves and grass.thanks,rod -- rod cohen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

cicada found

Date: Friday, Aug/23/2002

Message: We found a live cicada.MY first graders and I had already talked about them. We brought him into the classroom,thought he was dead, but twice he began to sing, but he looks dead, wont move. Was he dying when we heard him? We all felt sorry for him. We want some info for 1st graders. -- linda moore, Wilson N.C.

Cicadas and hot weather

Date: Friday, Aug/23/2002

Message: So far I have found it to be true that cicadas singing in the morning is consistent with hot weather. Some cicadas, Tibicen chloromera and T. lyricen in particular, love the hot mid-afternoon hours for singing, and if the morning is really hot, they will often get an early start. On the other hand, if it is cool and/or cloudy in the morning, they will usually wait until it heats up to start calling. -- Nick., Cicadas of Arkansas

Answering questions

Date: Friday, Aug/23/2002

Message: Hello everyone,I've been asked to assist Dan in answering your questions on this board. Since Dan will be unavailble for at least another week, please feel free to forward your questions to me at les_daniels@yahoo.comI'll do my best to answer your questions as quickly as possible.Les -- Les Daniels, Fremont, Ohio U.S.A.

Gonna be a hot one

Date: Thursday, Aug/22/2002

Message: Is it true that if you hear cicadas in the morning that means it's going to be a really hot day? Thats what I heard as a kid and it seems to be true -- Al, New Jersey

Dog is eating cicadas

Date: Thursday, Aug/22/2002

Message: My dog is chasing and eating the cicadas in our back yard. It is disgusting!!! -- Barb, Washington, DC

Relationship of "Singing" and Temperature?

Date: Thursday, Aug/22/2002

Message: The frequency and tone of their calls is related to the temperature, and the time of day. What exactly is the relationship? What temperature does it have to be?thanks george -- George Boccanfuso, Sarnia Ontario Canada

cicadas and drought

Date: Thursday, Aug/22/2002

Message: can cicadas appear early because of drought conditions -- jesse einstein, potomac md

CICADAS UNDER MY DECK

Date: Wednesday, Aug/21/2002

Message: THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAVE BEEN SEEING THESE THINGS FLYING AROUND MY YARD . AT FIRST I THOUGHT THEY WERE HUGE BEES UNTIL I TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS IN PEST CONTROL.I HAVE HOLES ALL OVER THE YARD BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY TUNNELED UNDER MY DECK.I HAVE SEEN 2 FEMALES GOING IN AND OUT.SO TONIGHT I DUG UP AROUND THE DECK AND I MUST PICKED UP 100 OF THESE THINGS.ALL WERE THE GREEN COLOR BUNCHED IN 2s AND 3s . ALSO I FOUND TWO EGGS THAT WERE ABOUT 1 INCH LONG WITH A WHITE NYMPH INSIDE DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE CICADAS OR NOT. -- JOE LEH, BERKS COUNTY , PA

Found two!

Date: Wednesday, Aug/21/2002

Message: I've always heard them around, but never seen a live one, until today. There was a male on the street light pole outside my house. He was making his racket, and then a female arrived at the same pole. -- Kenneth Tucky, Ontario

New Cicada Enthusiast !!!

Date: Wednesday, Aug/21/2002

Message: Hey Everyone, I've recently become amazed with cicadas. I'm learning so many cool new facts. Unfortunitly I haven't seen a real live one. So if anyone has any tips on finding one please email me at karej429@hotmail.com. Thanks! & Good Luck :) -- Kary Johanesen, New Jersey

Live Adult Cicada Found

Date: Tuesday, Aug/20/2002

Message: I found a live adult cicada this morning on the front stoop of our laboratory building. I live and work in the Catskill Mountain area of NY for a water supply reservoir. The area is rocky & forrested mostly white pine, and hardwoods. There was a trace of rainfall on the morning I found it. I found it 8/20/02 at 10:00 a.m. -- Jeff Helmuth, P.E., Shokan, NY (Ulster County)

please answer

Date: Tuesday, Aug/20/2002

Message: for a project i need 5 interesting facts about cicadas.... has anyone got any good ones???? please email me at fairydust8000@hotmail.com thankyou -- katie, australia

is the 17 year cicadas here?

Date: Monday, Aug/19/2002

Message: i remember i think it was in 1985, my son was about 14. he was mowing the back yard and these cicadas were atacking him, he wore a football hat and was trying to run from them. i was driving down the street and they would fly inside the car while i was driving!! was wondering if this year is when they will be like then? not sure of the year. it was either 1985 or 1986. thank you, paula jane -- paula jane, dayton, ohio

cicada

Date: Monday, Aug/19/2002

Message: I have so many cicadas in my yard it is driving me crazy what can i do? I have alot of black ones and i saw one green one. i want to spray. i had a tree company come out because they are every where Help!!!! -- jill, bloomfield, michigan

Response ....

Date: Sunday, Aug/18/2002

Message: Response to: slakers up in the piece! Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002Message: do you guys ever answer these questions -- Penis, State of the Crabs.... They're on vacation from July 31 till Sept.. read the front page of the website! -- WebPageReader, PA

Cicadas everywhereeeeeee.....

Date: Saturday, Aug/17/2002

Message: There are hundreds of cicadas in the trees near my house and I need to catch one for a Zoology project for school next year; thing is, they are too fast! I was so close to cathing one, nevermind being deafened by the buzzing noise and it flew off before I could capture it...anyone know a good way to capture a cicada?Adema3496@aol.com -- Candyce, Baltimore, Maryland

All the cicadas live in my yard!

Date: Saturday, Aug/17/2002

Message: When I see these bugs...I want to be sick! They are sooo huge...what is their purpose? I saw a little finch fighting one, even the birds think they're sick! When I go out at night, they find me! I think they like me, kind of like a person who hates cats and the cat rubs on that persons leg. I was in my basement, ironing and there was one attracted to the light (I just came in because one kept flying around my porch.) This second one, kept bagging into the slotted window of the door (no screen). So I went to close the window so it was open just a crack and a few minutes later that bug came flying through the teeny-tiny opening, like a freaking bat out of hell! NO LIE! I screamed like a banshee! Poking around for a few minutes with no luck I went back to my ironing--Low and behold a couple of minutes later who comes crawling up from underneath the ironing board, but this nucluear sized fly! I almost DIED. Well, I found a mason jar and screamed for my husband, he took it and put it outside the other basement door and he could not close the door fast enough the determined disgusting bug flew in before the door shut. Well, that bug, unfortunatly lost. To say the least we have many more. What do the females look like? Kruzen@aol.com put cicada in the memo area. -- Lisa, Northern Chester County

Is it dead?

Date: Friday, Aug/16/2002

Message: We saw a big cicada at work today on the outside stairs. It was just sitting there on the ground. We thought is was dead so we poked it. It started to crawl a bit. I think it's still out there. Is it dying? -- Anna & Angie, Canada

Large amounts of Cicadas

Date: Thursday, Aug/15/2002

Message: Have lived in the Bucks County, PA area for 13 years and by far this year in Washington Crossing there is an abundance of cicadas everywhere! Mayb the drought conditions have brought morre out than usual? -- Carole D., Washington Crossings, PA

Cicada Killer Wasps

Date: Thursday, Aug/15/2002

Message: I was very surprised when walking to the subway to see this huge "mutant" thing carrying another large bug. I stopped in shock. Well now I'm calmer as I have identified it as a Cicada Killer Wasp (or at least I think I'm calmer!) Anyone else every see these in Brooklyn? -- Amanda, Brooklyn, NY

Cicada picture

Date: Thursday, Aug/15/2002

Message: I have a pretty good picture of a cicada I'd like to send you.Thanks. ronoquinn@comcast.com -- Ron O'Quinn, Ladson, S.C.

Tyler from PA

Date: Thursday, Aug/15/2002

Message: Give your email address and I'll tell you what I can about keeping cicadas alive. Or just send me an email and I'll send a reply that way. Mine is stnick127@collegeclub.com. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

Dog Day Cicadas

Date: Wednesday, Aug/14/2002

Message: Wow -- is it hot in Jersey. Plenty of Tibicens too. -- Dan (Cicada Expert!), NewJersey

Raising Cicadas

Date: Wednesday, Aug/14/2002

Message: I've always been interested in catching bugs. It all started with catching Japanese beetles in my grape vines. When I first saw a cicada shell, my friends said that is was locust shell. That was in 1999. I didn't see one untill this summer. I found them all over the place! Every tree I looked on had them. Finding them has became my hobby. One time when I found a shell it seemed a little heavy. I couldn't belive it! It was a live locust! I tried to raise it, but some of the mean bully kids squashed it. I was so sad that day. A week later, I found another live one. It got away. The next day, I acually caut one. I have it in a jar as I'm typing this. I want to know how to raise and take care of one. I hope you have some info! Oh, and thanks to this site I know that it's a cicada. Hope your vacation was fun!!! -- Tyler Marini, Greenville, PA

Attention: Brian J. Prichard

Date: Wednesday, Aug/14/2002

Message: Brian, please contact me at my email of les_daniels@yahoo.comIt is important and I'm hoping you can help. You're original email I have in my address book is no longer valid. Thanks - Les -- Les Daniels, Fremont, Ohio U.S.A.

2nd sighting of cicada

Date: Wednesday, Aug/14/2002

Message: last night my co-workers and i had a cicada in the breakroom this was the 2nd time we had come in contact with it. the first time we saw it, our female employees claimed that it was attacking them. (it was just flying around and they were in it's way) -- ken, Cleveland,Ohio

Found a stange bug

Date: Wednesday, Aug/14/2002

Message: We think we found a cicada in our front yard but we aren't sure. We've never seen one here before but we just visited Chicago & learned about them. Why are we now seeing them here? -- Nancy, Meghan & Emilie, Royal Oak, MI 48073

Definately not Giant Ticks

Date: Wednesday, Aug/14/2002

Message: We started seeing these strange exoskelletons on the trees outside our house and were very curious as to what they were. I jokeingly said they must have been giant ticks, and my wife thought they must be locusts. I never saw what came out of them untill the other night when I went out to walk the dog and found one drying it's wings. I promptly ran inside and and got the digital to take some pictures and got some real doozies. At this point I thought they might be cicadas but I had to be sure. After a bit of research, I came upon this site and it proved what the beautiful green bug with the glassy wings was. I am so excited and hope I get to see more. Is there a season for these in New Jersey? and if so, When can I expect them. Also, what kind are these bright green ones and are they on this 17 year cycle I keep hearing about? Please e-mail me with any information at ltockman4@hotmail.com. Thanks and I appreaciate any info anyone can give me. -- Lee Tockman, Princeton NJ

sighting

Date: Tuesday, Aug/13/2002

Message: Got to see my first Cicada last week. Really neat. -- Marilyn, Gardiner, Maine

male or female

Date: Tuesday, Aug/13/2002

Message: how do u know if a cicada is amale or female? -- dude, whitby ontario canada

Silver Spring and Brooklyn Cicadas

Date: Monday, Aug/12/2002

Message: David, I'm from Silver Spring. The 17 year cicadas will be back there in 2004, but you have other cicadas every summer. Does anyone know if there any cicadas in Manhattan? -- Margaret , Brooklyn

Re:Killer Wasps

Date: Monday, Aug/12/2002

Message: I know what you mean about having them all over your lawn! I have them so bad, you can't even walk outfront. They have come after us(my husband & I) and after my dogs. I guess they are protecting their nests, but still. We too have tried everything, the only thing that works is cool weather. We had a few days of nice temps, and we did not see one!! I can't wait til fall!!! Then, we are going to try & kill the larve in the holes. The strange part, we never ever hear ciadas around!!! Go figure! I can't help w/info on killing cicads, I don't think that is the answer. You can call an exterminator, they can treat the lawn, but it's coslty & you may need several treatments. Good luck!!! -- B, PA

i just now at age 37 held my first live cicada

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: a neighbor was over and happened to see it clinging to a tree in the yard. we held it and looked at it for a bit then let it go. i sure wouldnt mind knowing what sort we have here. i have seen the word broods many times here tonight but the bugs are here every year. are they still the sort thjat hatch every 7 or 17 years? the cicada was grayish except for some very dark green markings on its back. -- Gerald, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

slakers up in the piece!

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: do you guys ever answer these questions -- Penis, State of the Crabs....

Brood IX stragglers?

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: I've seen a few cicada exoskeletons laying around this year and I'm looking forward to a huge infestation next year! I remember the last time they came-- I was only 8 and I used to dream of what I would be like 17 years from then... Would I be any fun? Would I still climb trees? Would I still play with the cicadas? I can't wait to introduce my little son to the incredible cicada phenomenon! And yes, I still climb trees! -- Julia, Reston, VA

cicadas in Maryland

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: When will cicadas emerge in Maryland? -- David, Silver Spring, MD

Cicada

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: I moved here to PA from CA last spring and am discovering all kinds of new critter life here (like the centipede on my dining room wall but that's another story!) Found this ugly beautiful creature on my doorstep this morning, unfortunately, dead. Neighbor said it was a June bug but when I checked bug websites, it wasn't a match. Then I remembered hearing about Cicadas from my grandparents in Kansas. Ta-Dah! Thats what it is and that's what all the racket is in my neighborhood!Great website ! Thanks for all your information -- Sandy, Enola, Cumberland County, PA

Thanks for having the web site

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: I awoke one hot August morning to my 5 year old son adn 3 year old daughters question - WHAT is that noise.I explained that it was a bug. A minutes later I was in the front of my house very excited to see a cicada that was recently hatch, with great excitment I got the kids and brought them outside to see what bug made all that noise. That lead to even more questions.I immediately went searching on the web and came up with your website.You had all the answers and the best pictures, we even downloaded some sounds.So thanks for helping a mom explain what all that noise is.Keep up the good work. -- Eileen Signorelli, Staten Island NY

cicada singing

Date: Sunday, Aug/11/2002

Message: The cicada singing is deafening in my neighborhood. I just finished making an outdoor video and we couldn't hear the people speaking because of the cicada 'chat'.If anyone needs more cicadas, go to Northbrook Illinois. You won't be disappointed. -- Wendy, Northbrook, IL

heard lots of 'em - first sighting last night...

Date: Saturday, Aug/10/2002

Message: One crawled out of the flower bed onto the kids' li'l tikes play slide. We watched it split its' back, creep out of its' skin, extend (and dry) it's wings, then change color and sit in the sun waiting to be eaten by a bird... -- Ray, Plainfield, IL - 35miles west of Chicago

an old Ojibwe tale about the cicada

Date: Saturday, Aug/10/2002

Message: Cicadas usually appear around the Great Lakes area in August. I thought I would share one of my favorite stories told to me when I was a youngster. (Folklore is an imortant part of the Ojibwe culture.) Winiboozhoo is a common character in our folklore; he was one of the first human-like beings made by the creator (Gitchimanitou). THE CICADA AND WINIBOOZHOOFrom the beginning of time, children resisted eating vegetables and fruits, objecting that cabbages and such were such a disagreeable and unappetizing green. To persuade children to eat vegetables and fruits, Winiboozhoo stumbled on the idea of dying them hundreds of different shades to confer beauty and flavor on them. But before he was half done with this enormous task, an enemy came along during the night and stained everything with a film of fine cold, white dust. Winiboozhoo was forced to start over not once but many times before he learned who his enemy was. From the beginning he suspected it was his brother Pukawis but it wasn't until he heard derisive laughter, muted and disguised though it was, that he was sure. Finally, unable or unwilling to put up with the despoliation of his work by frost or snow even if it was done in jest, Winiboozhoo caught a cicada and put it to work, painting the fruit and vegetables so he could devote his time and energy to pursuing the enemy. The cicada took up the assignment readily. However because Winiboozhoo's instructions were rather vague, the cicada painted everything, including the grass and leaves. Winiboozhoo was so preoccupied with overtaking his mischievous brother Pukawis that he forgot about the cicada. To this day the cicada can be heard on hot days, sometimes as early as mid-July, starting the duties that Winiboozhoo assigned him: painting the land to usher in autumn. -- Abbey, Mankato, MN

Cicada Killer Wasps

Date: Friday, Aug/9/2002

Message: Each year, our yard is over run with Cicada Killer Wasps which burrough in the ground, lay their eggs and find Cicadas from the trees to deposit in the burroughs for their larve to eat.This year, the infestation is worse than ever. You may walk into the yard and see literally hundreds of Cicada Killer Wasps flying around. They do not bother humans but these burroughs they dig are similair to that of mole crickets and they are generally annoying. If they were to sting someone, it would be a very painful ordeal.Anyway, we have attempted some of the suggestions made on Cicada Killer Wasp websites to discourage them from coming to our yard to no avail. We have used lime around the yard, flooded the yard with water and generally tried to rid the yard of these wasps.The only other solution is to next take away their motovation and kill the Cicadas in the nearby trees. What would it take to do this and would it rid our yard of Cicada Killer Wasps finally?BHW -- Barton Workman, Tampa, Florida USA

Information Please

Date: Friday, Aug/9/2002

Message: I was startled the other day when watering as a cicada nearly the size of a sparrow flew out of the bushes. I had never seen a cicada, nor any insect of that size for that matter, that large. It was dark, almost black with yellow spots. Does anyone know what that describes or where I can find more out about them?Thx... -- Dallas BKK, Dallas, TX, USA

Lots of em

Date: Thursday, Aug/8/2002

Message: Over the last few days we have had lots! of noise....they are all over the place. do they come out every 13-17 years? we have been here 12 years and this is the first time we have heard them. scoozer66@yahoo.com -- Sarah Bauer, Fountain,CO

Tibicen linnei

Date: Thursday, Aug/8/2002

Message: I have a few questions regarding T. linnei. The first concerns the range in which it is found. Does this creature inhabit northern Texas? Also, does its call sound similar to that of a rattlesnake? Any info would be greatly appreciated. -- John V., Wichita Falls, Tx

Cicadas in 2003

Date: Wednesday, Aug/7/2002

Message: Please help! I am planning an outdoor wedding reception in July 2003. It will we held at Sharon Woods Village in Sharonville, Ohio. WIll there be an infestion of cicadas at that time? I certainly don't want them invited to my big day! Please E-mail me at SKrehb5754@aol.com Amy -- Amy Krehbiel, Cincinnati, Ohio USA

Cicadas attracted to Lights at night!

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: Over the past four years, I have been keeping track (species & sex)of any annual cicadas that are attracted to any of my three outside lights. I usually have about a dozen cicadas that will come to the lights during the summer. This year however, I guess because of the heat and humidity, I am having an abundance of cicadas coming to my outside lights! Just a few days ago I had 6 cicadas come to lights in one night! (4 lyricen and 2 chloromera). I usually hit them hitting the glass doors (a very distinct sound) and find them hanging on the screen or on the ground. Since July 10, I have had 26 attracted to the lights. This is double the amount during an average year and there is still a lot of summer left. Its interesting that most of the cicadas have been female T. lyricen! Anybody else have any similar experiences? So far this year, -- John Z, Maryland

T. robinsoniana now locally abundant, T. davisi is now common & N. hieroglyphica is finished for the year.

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: Since we have been experiencing many 90 degree days, Tibicen robinsoniana has been extremely abundant in certain localities. Its very slow coarse continous "runt...runt...runt" is very unique and can be heard almost every afternoon (usually after 1pm and before 6pm). T. chloromera, T. lyricen & T. davisi (short, high-pitched whine lasting about 10 seconds) make up the morning and noon chorus. An occasional T. auletes may call around noon. Things seems to be quiet until around 6pm, when T. chloromera has been calling lately in the late afternoon/early evening. About a half an hour before dusk, T. lyricen (long monotone rattle lasting 40-60 seconds) and T. auletes (very loud chh..chh..chh...chh) begin to call and do so until just about dark. Only one T. linnei called for a few days a few weeks ago, but as in years past I expect T. lyricen to start to decrease and T. linnei start to increase around the end of August. N. hieroglyphica was last heard on August 2 and is probably finished for the year. -- John Z, Maryland

Find

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: I was digging today, trying to kill some vines that were climbing up my house. After about three shovels, I noticed an off brown lump sitting in the soil. Upon close examination, I believed it to be a Cicada skin, then it moved. I was worried the critter would die, so I had my six year old place him on a tree. Within a couple hours the Cicada had shed his skin and was ready for business! Incredible find and I took several pictures (hope they come out). My son obviously became interested so I did an internet search and found your site. Incredible find! Thanks just for being here. -- Jim, Colorado

Tibicen auletes

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: I was just beginning to notice that these guys haven't made a peep all year, when all at once, they've shown up rather convincingly in the last few days. As usual they gather in groups so you always hear them when they're anywhere close! =) -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

Cicada Sighting

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: We have tons of cicadas in our backyard. They frequently attach to our house or lay on our deck. I have to be honest, they are not in the least attractive. Perhaps they haven't come out of their "shell" yet? Anyway, I have great respect and appreciation for them. Saw one on the bricks of the house yesterday; blue jay snatched it and ate it - very disappointing. This morning a new one is sunbathing on the deck. Ahhh, the circle of life I suppose. -- Shelley, Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Wasps

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: Well, these wasps are no fun dealing with!!! I wrote about them awhile back, well, they are still all over my lawn, & keep making new nests... I have been able to find new info on them, but still nothing helps. Except... cooler weather... They may not 'attack' but when you have 10-20 flying around at your house, you still don't want to walk through them. They have gone after my dogs. So, the only thing that seems to get rid of them will be the fall weather.... When that hits, I will have to find all the holes and 'treat' them so as to kill any eggs that were layed there. -- B, Delaware County,PA

Cicadas make me scared-y!

Date: Monday, Aug/5/2002

Message: tonite i was sitting around not doing much and whatnot and then all of a sudden i heard a CRAZY noize and i looked over and saw this HUGE SCAAAAAAAAARY bug flying all about the room and into my face, chest and neck like a crazy person! i was so scared i almost pooped my pants right then and there (but i didn't!). nope, i chased it around and finally caught it with some tongs and threw it back out the window. YAY!!! then i had an ice cream cone because i was so happy it hadn't killed me and eaten my body (or filled it full of eggs or something). bye.(p.s-- the scary bug i was talking about? it was a cicada. OH YEAH!)(p.p.s.-- do you peoples like cicadas or something? I SURE DON'T!) -- Randall, NY

Scary Cicada Story

Date: Sunday, Aug/4/2002

Message: Today I found a cicada attacking my pet poodle in the backyard. She was frightened so I hit it (the cicada) with my electrified fly swatter. It had no effect. It flew at my face and I tripped over the poodle. Cicada'a are scary. Your web site is cool. Will you send me a free t-shirt? -- tommy, mount holly, nj

Sighting

Date: Sunday, Aug/4/2002

Message: Two or three sighted in Red Bank, NewJersey in the past weeks. -- Sheila, Red Bank, New Jersey

Cicada Sighted

Date: Sunday, Aug/4/2002

Message: On August 4, 2002 at about 10 pm, a cicada coming out of its shin hung over my door as I went into my house. When it finished coming out of its ugly skin, it spread its beautiful thin leaflike green wings. I took pictures with my digital camera.Do they really stay in the ground for 17 years?Logan -- Logan Cantu, Grifton, Nc

too many cicadas messing up my lawn!

Date: Saturday, Aug/3/2002

Message: I bought my house a little over four years ago. Like clockwork, every year around late June and early July I find these little holes in my lawn, usually close to trees or my hedges. The holes are about 1/2 inch in diameter and up to 5 or 6 inches deep. Upon closer inspection I also find anywhere from 15 to 40 of these nasty looking bug skins/shells either in the grass at the base of the bushes or sometimes attached to my wooden shed or kid's wooden swing set. The bug skins are usually split down the back at which point something obviously emerged in some different form. Being a reasonably intelligent person I figured that some form of insect had crawled out of the ground (hence the holes) and shed it's skin. When I took these skins to my local gardening center I was informed that they were some form of grub. Three years and two bags of grub treatment later I still counted about 35 "grub" holes in my lawn along with the accompanying shells. One night last week I noticed a large insect burrowing into the dirt in my flower patch like a dog looking for a bone. The bug turned out to be a cicada bug as it was big and metallic green and had large wings that made a lot of noise. I chased the bug away and filled up the hole with a rock only to come back the next day to find a freshly dug hole next to the blocked one. I also hear them buzzing around outside almost every day. I even found one in my house (actually my three year-old spotted the critter). I then decided to do some research on the internet and to make a long story somewhat shorter I now think that I have a lawn full of cicada bugs that create these holes and then leave their skins all over the place. I even went on one website that showed one of these critters shedding it's skin. It looked just like the skins I have all over my yard. But why do they keep coming back every year? Aren't they supposed to be on some sort of 13 or 17 year cycle? Will they eventually destroy my lawn or shrubs and if so how can I get rid of them? I know they like to eat plants and roots and things. I'm open for any information or suggestions anyone might have. malbug@aol.com -- Mark Bugbee, Baltimore, MD

Green cicada

Date: Saturday, Aug/3/2002

Message: Saw a cicada buzzing around a streetlight near my house - then the next night found one skittering around a parking lot - he was olive green. It's been real hot and humid the last few weeks! -- Steve Carpenter, Lafayette, Louisiana

Cicada sightning

Date: Saturday, Aug/3/2002

Message: Aug 03 2002 sighted a green cicada in the garden..very fascinating... -- sandy, Buena Vista, Virginia

Cicada sightning

Date: Saturday, Aug/3/2002

Message: Aug 03 2002 -- sandy, Buena Vista, Virginia

Cicada Killer Wasps

Date: Friday, Aug/2/2002

Message: I just ran into these large wasps, and had a crash course on them. You can go to this web site to learn more about them. Very interesting creatures. http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadakillerhome.html -- Jodi, MI

cicada killers

Date: Friday, Aug/2/2002

Message: Tonite my girls and I were walking to our next door neighbors and came across what appeared to be some type of ant nest, when the mutant bee flew out at us we quickly changed our tune. After finding a dead "bee" and doing a little research I am almost sure it is a cicada killer. Any advice on when to watch for one in action? The girls and I think it would be interesting to see the food chain at work. -- June, indianapolis

hibrination

Date: Friday, Aug/2/2002

Message: Ive been told that cicadas hibrinate for seven years, then they come out for a season, then hibrinate again for another seven years, so on and so forth. -- andrew schwartz, Chicago , IL

I saw a cicada on my porch

Date: Friday, Aug/2/2002

Message: Hi i am 15 years old and i was outside of my porch and i saw this ugly big bug and it was laying still on the ground not moving. Then my dog went up to it and would touch it then it would flip around not flying but its wings or something made a lound sound and it was hop rolling around. Then my dog ate it but i had no clue what it was. The next day i found out it was a Cicada and i was wondering if they really do only come every 17 years and if so are they coming this year? Also is it bad that my dog ate it? If they are invading this year about how long do u think they would stay, and do they bite people like other insects? I live in maryland and i know that there is an insect that is coming within the next few years but should i expect to see Locusts or Cicadas? Thankyou, Tallie -- Tallie, Olney Maryland

How long are cicadas around for each year?

Date: Thursday, Aug/1/2002

Message: Message: I am working on a science newsletter involving sounds in your backyard. I would like to include cicadas, but the letter will not be distributed until early to mid September. Will cicadas be around through September? -- Roxanne, Albuquerque, NM

Rachel from Texas

Date: Thursday, Aug/1/2002

Message: There are several species of cicadas, and each one has its own unique call. The one you heard to the south was likely a cicada, just a different species than what you have in the Dallas area. Unfortunately I don't have much experience with the western cicada species, so I couldn't begin to tell you what kind it may have been. The western species are different frrom those in the east, and the changeover occurs roughly through the plains states and central Texas. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

Cicada?

Date: Thursday, Aug/1/2002

Message: Hi. I'm stumped. I've just returned from the Brownsville area of the Rio Grand Valley in the south tip of Texas. Down there is a bug that makes one very loud, high pitched sound, almost deafening if too close. It slows down similar to the cicadas up here in the DFW area, sort of sounding like a chain saw comming to a stop, but the bug is much higher piched. Is this a cicada? If so what sort? Any help appreciated!! Thanks -- Rachel, Texas

Cicada in my apartment...

Date: Thursday, Aug/1/2002

Message: I have a cicada in my apartment... should I be concerned? It appeared to be attracted to my house light. How long do you think it will live? -- J, Baltimore, Maryland

Date: Wednesday, Jul/31/2002

Message: -- ,

Watching a cicada emerge from its shell

Date: Wednesday, Jul/31/2002

Message: I just watched a cicada emerge from its shell. It was so exciting! It made my day. I'm only sorry the children in the neighborhood weren't around to observe with me. -- Mary P., Johnstown, New York

Never Seen One Before!

Date: Tuesday, Jul/30/2002

Message: This was the biggest bug I have ever seen... scared me half to death. After alot of research, found out that it is a cicada. Never knew they existed in New York! -- Holly F, Auburn, New York

Strange Bug

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: Today is July 29th, three weeks ago I found this strange insect in the garden, such a large bug to be coming out of a small bumble bee type shell. I have never seen anything like this before, I was a little concerned as to what it was and we put it in a container and tried to contact enviroment Canada to check it out, in case it was a threat. Sorry to say that in the end it died. When I got home from holidays on the 28th I had an E-Mail from my boss saying that he had found one in his garden, different colour than mine, but same type of insect. Is it unusal for this insect to be in Canada? My boss checked out web sights and E-mailed this sight to me, I was able to find the type of insect that I had in the garden. What a beautiful colour green, if I had only known I would have left it alone, but you learn something new every day, next time I will let it be. -- Debra, Hamilton Ontario Canada

Just out of the shell

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: My daugter and I were walking through the backyard tonight and found a cicada right next to his/her shell on a branch. -- Chad, Germantown, Wisconsin

Tibicen chloromera

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: These guys are out in force in my yard. Saturday I saw five on a single branch. That's the most annuals I've ever seen in one place at one time.They sing low in the trees compared to most other Tibicens, allowing for better viewing. Their singing dominates the late morning and early afternoon. For the second year in a row, though, T. pruinosa and T. lyricen have been relatively scarce on our property. The evenings are kind of dull without them. -- Nick, Cicadas of Arkansas

They didn't believe me

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: On lunch today, I saw a giant shell of a bug on my patio. I picked it up in delight realizing that it was a cicada. I brought it into work to scare a coworker. Your site helped me prove that it was, in fact, a cicada. The rest of my coworkers thought that they only came out every 17 years. -- Kelly, Elk Grove Village, IL

Nick from Arkansas

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: You page hit our cicada species right on the head - most of the cicads we see hear are either the Green Annual or the Harvest Fly variety - next time I catch one I'll look for some of the more subtle features you describe to determine which I have. The one that competes with my riding mower landed on my arm yesterday while mowing and he is a Golden Annual - we are seeing the one Dog Day Cicada pictured on your page but very rarly - maybe because they are so we'll camoflaged. -- Ian, Texas

Louder than Sunday Traffic on the Dan Ryan

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: Driving back through Chicago last evening and the buzzing of the Cicada's along the expressway drowned out the heavy Sunday night traffic. Is this a periodic brood that was expected in the Chicago area? When did it start? When will it end? -- Jim, Chicago

immortalized in song

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: To all...I love these darn things and I regret to say I did not see any of the red-eyed ones this year. It will be quite a while before they emerge in my neck of the woods. I'm just writing to say that I saw a band this past weekend that sang a song about the 17 year cicada. The band is Big Smith and I was just thrilled, so I thought I would mention it to someone who cares. Anybody in the vicinity of Springfield, MO please check these guys out. You're lucky to have them. www.bigsmithband.com -- Tara, Chicago, IL

One of the coolest things I have ever seen

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: Last night, at about 10:30 at night, I noticed a strange leafy thing stuck to my porch stoop. It turned out to be a cicada just starting to emerge from its shell. I watched it until about midnight. Coolest thing! It was green and its wings were little stubs when it first came out. As I watched, the wings slowly began to grow to their normal size and the cicada slowly began to darken in color. Very cool! I wanted to watch it until it flew away, but I was just so tired I finally went to bed. -- Amy Jo, Columbus, OH USA

Out of Nowhere!

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: Sitting peacefully in my backyard on July 24 reading a book, something hit my patio just 3 feet from me. I looked up to see a clear sky, no branches above me and no bird. The object that fell was clearly a black beady-eyed, iridescent-winged, huge Cicada taking its last breath. I'm just glad its little heart didn't give out 3 feet later in its flight. -- Diana, South Plainfield, NJ

It's louder outside than in the house

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: The Cicada's have been out for a month or so. As I drove to the Knoxville airport with my window down, the noise was so loud, didn't know what it was. Til I shut the engine off. The sound of the Cicada's was deafening!!!!. I was amazed I'd heard them while driving 45 MPH. -- Cathy, Speedwell, TN

have seen 2 Cicadas

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: Have recently seen 2 Cicadas..one last night..and one tonight..the 1st met his demise in the form of George the securit gaurd, while flying in the main hallway of our building..the other was clibming outside on the patio..hope the poor guy or gal finds it's mate before it meets George. -- Natalie, Altoona, Pennsylvania

holy sheeet!

Date: Monday, Jul/29/2002

Message: I was just lying on my couch when I felt something crawling on my ankle. I looked down and to my horror saw the biggest damn bug I've seen all summer. In an immediate reflex, I flicked it off, only to hear it give off a blood curdling shreek and begin flying around my room madly. Before this, I only thought cicadas came out in mass during specific cycles of known increments. But after looking at your site, I know what I saw. So now I can't find it, and I have to sleep with a huge ass evil bug crawling around my room. I HATE CICADAS! -- S, MO

Those buzzing pests are destroying my once quiet home

Date: Sunday, Jul/28/2002

Message: About 9 years ago, I spent a summer in New Mexico. The only thing I hated the the obnoxiously loud and nearly constant buzzing of cicadas. I was sooo happy I was not a permanent resident there. Now, 9 years later, it appears that those darn buzzing pests are beginning to appear in my neighborhood in California. If it isn't them, it must be a close and noisy cousin of theirs.My once peaceful home is now plagued with that darn buzzing (than goodness it isn't continuous yet). I have read several things onlie that say that there isn'y much you can do about them. Is that really true? This is the first summer they have emerged--which I guess means they have been here for more than a decade and are just now getting to the obnoxious stage. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO RESTORE MY ONCE PEACEFUL HOME BEFORE THE BUZZING GETS ANY WORSE? Introduce its natural enemy, perhaps? (is ther anything except the wasp?)PLEASE HELP!!! -- Robin Bird, Danville, California, USA

Books

Date: Sunday, Jul/28/2002

Message: Here are a list of books that do have some studies and reference to cicadas from other countries and can often be located on "Out of Print" internet sites. INSECT SINGERS: A NATURAL HISTORY OF CICADAS - J. G. Myers 1929 AUSTRALIAN CICADAS - M.S. Moulds 1990 THE CICADIDAE OF CHINA - C. Lo, L. Zhongren, L.L.L. Xiaolin, Y. Wei 1997 THE CATALOGUE OF THE CICADOIDEA - J.P. Duffels, P.A. van der Laan 1985 SYNONYMIC CATALOGUE OF HOMOPERTA: CICADIDAE - W.L. Distant 1906 -- Dan, New Jersey