They're a-coming!

Happy Monkey · 03-16-2004, 02:17 PM

On or about May 2004, Brood X of the 17-year periodical cicadas will emerge. If you are in this area, you will soon be swarmed.

I was a wee lad the last time this happened, and I remember the shells covering the trees and telephone poles, and the incredible sound. But most of all, I remember trying to walk to school without squishing them all.

ladysycamore · 03-16-2004, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Happy Monkey
On or about May 2004, Brood X of the 17-year periodical cicadas will emerge. If you are in this area, you will soon be swarmed.

I was a wee lad the last time this happened, and I remember the shells covering the trees and telephone poles, and the incredible sound. But most of all, I remember trying to walk to school without squishing them all.

Dear god: I was just graduating HS when this...event happened, and graduation day was certainly interesting. *cringe* I recall when one of those damn things was on the inside of my shirt. What happened was that some friends and I were bowling one night. After we finished up, we walked across the street to a 7-11 to wait for a ride home. I was leaning up against a trash can, and was wearing a long shirt. I suddenly felt a movement under my shirt, I looked inside, and I saw that...that thing! I screamed bloody murder, and shook my shirt away from my body to shake the cicada off (and thank GOD it was crawling up the shirt side and not actually on my skin, or else I would have died! lol).

I'm on the UMMZ site...I thought that these cicadas were blind, but I don't see anything written about that.

Not looking forward to seeing them again, especially not living here in PA, where I hear it's really bad.

*feeling her bugphobia going up many notches...*

Happy Monkey · 03-16-2004, 02:40 PM

I don't think they're blind, they're just not particularly agile, so they bump into stuff alot. Unlike most flying insects, they only fly for a few weeks every 17 years, and they do so in such numbers that predators don't make a dent. So agility wasn't a particularly important survival trait.

SteveDallas · 03-16-2004, 03:01 PM

Ewwww... Ewwwww... I hate bugs....

Troubleshooter · 03-16-2004, 03:41 PM

I bet that would be a fun time to test out a flamethrower.

dar512 · 03-16-2004, 03:44 PM

You forgot smelly.

Happy Monkey · 03-16-2004, 04:02 PM

Alas, my olfactory memory doesn't seem to reach back 17 years. I don't remember the odor.

Elspode · 03-16-2004, 11:04 PM

I voted for "tasty". I don't know what they taste like, but they must be pretty yummy because my cats bring about a dozen per year into the house.

wolf · 03-17-2004, 12:33 AM

At work we have been known to take various insect carcasses (including cicaidas), tie black threads to them, and wave them at certain bug-senstive female crisis workers in an attempt to torture them.

If we are going to end up with a lot of them, I may have to discuss having one of the tall guys climb up and tape the threads to the ceiling fan, so they can whirl around.

It will be just like they were actually alive and swarming again.

Yes, I will take pictures if I make this happen.

dar512 · 03-17-2004, 08:32 AM

St. Louis had two or three varieties up and at 'em a couple of years ago. There were so many that there were piles of them under trees. You had to shovel them up an pitch them. Let me tell you they made an awful stink when they died.

phillybilly · 03-17-2004, 10:21 AM

Philadelphia is in that area, but nobody, I mean NOBODY, not even the periodical cicaidas can take then territory away from a good old fashioned, pollution fed, garbage nurtured cockroach!

I think we'll see very few of them in the city!

Happy Monkey · 03-17-2004, 10:24 AM

I suspect it depends on how much exposed soil there is in the area. DC has tons. I don't know about Philly.

Beestie · 03-17-2004, 10:41 AM

Just checked your link... I really could have lived without the recipies...

BLECHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

phillybilly · 03-17-2004, 10:50 AM

I don't personally fed the little bastards! Yet that is how they get so big I think....My personal staisfaction is from wasting the little bastards, if I'm fast enough that is....Later!

Happy Monkey · 03-17-2004, 11:39 AM

Mmm.. Cicadas and Diet Rite cola!

View Poll Results: Cicadas:
Fun	12	30.77%
Scary	5	12.82%
Annoying	17	43.59%
Tasty	9	23.08%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

03-16-2004, 02:17 PM	#1
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	They're a-coming! On or about May 2004, Brood X of the 17-year periodical cicadas will emerge. If you are in this area, you will soon be swarmed. I was a wee lad the last time this happened, and I remember the shells covering the trees and telephone poles, and the incredible sound. But most of all, I remember trying to walk to school without squishing them all. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-16-2004, 02:40 PM	#3
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I don't think they're blind, they're just not particularly agile, so they bump into stuff alot. Unlike most flying insects, they only fly for a few weeks every 17 years, and they do so in such numbers that predators don't make a dent. So agility wasn't a particularly important survival trait. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-16-2004, 03:41 PM	#5
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	I bet that would be a fun time to test out a flamethrower. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-16-2004, 04:02 PM	#7
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Alas, my olfactory memory doesn't seem to reach back 17 years. I don't remember the odor. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-16-2004, 03:01 PM	#4
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Ewwww... Ewwwww... I hate bugs....

03-16-2004, 03:44 PM	#6
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	You forgot smelly.

03-16-2004, 11:04 PM	#8
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I voted for "tasty". I don't know what they taste like, but they must be pretty yummy because my cats bring about a dozen per year into the house. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-17-2004, 12:33 AM	#9
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	At work we have been known to take various insect carcasses (including cicaidas), tie black threads to them, and wave them at certain bug-senstive female crisis workers in an attempt to torture them. If we are going to end up with a lot of them, I may have to discuss having one of the tall guys climb up and tape the threads to the ceiling fan, so they can whirl around. It will be just like they were actually alive and swarming again. Yes, I will take pictures if I make this happen. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-17-2004, 08:32 AM	#10
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	St. Louis had two or three varieties up and at 'em a couple of years ago. There were so many that there were piles of them under trees. You had to shovel them up an pitch them. Let me tell you they made an awful stink when they died.

03-17-2004, 10:21 AM	#11
phillybilly Belt Conveyor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Posts: 68	Well... Philadelphia is in that area, but nobody, I mean NOBODY, not even the periodical cicaidas can take then territory away from a good old fashioned, pollution fed, garbage nurtured cockroach! I think we'll see very few of them in the city!

03-17-2004, 10:24 AM	#12
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I suspect it depends on how much exposed soil there is in the area. DC has tons. I don't know about Philly. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-17-2004, 10:41 AM	#13
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	Just checked your link... I really could have lived without the recipies... BLECHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

03-17-2004, 10:50 AM	#14
phillybilly Belt Conveyor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Posts: 68	Well... I don't personally fed the little bastards! Yet that is how they get so big I think....My personal staisfaction is from wasting the little bastards, if I'm fast enough that is....Later!

03-17-2004, 11:39 AM	#15
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Mmm.. Cicadas and Diet Rite cola! __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

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