WOW! Cicadas are coming!

WOW! Cicadas are coming!

Posted on 10. Mar, 2011 by in World of Wonder, WOW Past Events, WOW! Blog

Every year in the summer we are visited by incredibly noisy insects called cicadas.  This year is special because the Great Southern Brood or Brood 19 of the periodic cicadas will emerge in very large numbers across the south.  These insects are about an inch and a half long, red eyed noise makers that you will not miss.  When the ground temperature reaches 64 degrees they will begin to emerge from where they have been hiding in the soil for the past 13 years.  That’s right, 13 years!  You are less likely to encounter them in the city but where there are a lot of trees, especially oaks, and undisturbed soil they will emerge in great numbers to eat leaves, make a lot of noise, mate and lay eggs so that in 13 years there will be another brood of The Great Southern Brood.  And when I say noise, I mean these are really loud.  They all join together to make an amazing chorus.  This article will tell you more and you can also visit Davidson Farmer’s Market on March 26th.  Lenny Lampel from the Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec. will join WOW with a presentation about how to be a part of Citizen Science to help count our visiting cicadas.

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2 Responses to “WOW! Cicadas are coming!”

  1. Angie Bentley

    01. May, 2011

    Oh my goodness yes! They arrived in droves last evening! I have 6 acres in Cabarrus county and I mowed and worked outside all day yesterday. I arose this morning to find them everywhere – on my buildings, within the trees, on tall grass and in ornamental plants. They are molting out of their shells – shells that litter the ground and quite literally everything! I must admit that these creatures stir an absolute feeling of fear in me as I had siblings who felt the need to put the shells in my hair and on my back so they could gleefully watch me scream in terror once I noted them. I am now a 43 year old mother who will without doubt scream like a 6 year old little girl if one comes near me. EWWW! Oddly, I do find their chorus comforting. I grew up in the Chicago area and they would have festivals including frying them up or covering them with chocolate only to snack on them. I on the other hand, will not be participating in any such activities. For those of you with the need to experiment…enjoy!

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  2. Stephanie

    02. May, 2011

    The 17-year cicadas are in vast numbers outside our back porch. They keep my cat entertained as she watches them fly like small birds across our yard. Our 5 year old daughter found the molted shell of one yesterday on our driveway. She was intrigued, needless to say at the pure size of the insect. It sounds like a large diesel truck running in our woods. The one I took a picture of today is brown with orange wings and red eyes…scary looking creature I must say! I hope they don’t stay long, but without them, it just wouldn’t sound much like summer!

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