Periodical Cicada, Seventeen Year Cicada
Magicicada septendecim
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Regional
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Vincent, Alabama
Blytheville, Arkansas
Huntsville, Arkansas
Chicago, Illinois
Niles, Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Winnetka, Illinois
Yale, Iowa
Mayetta, Kansas
Benton, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Hessmer, Louisiana
Crofton, Maryland
Cole Camp, Missouri
Southampton, New York
Burnsville, North Carolina
Bucyrus, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mcallen, Texas
Mission, Texas
Red Oak, Texas
Penhook, Virginia
Wayne, West Virginia
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Gardener's Notes:
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queball
Chillybean
We spent time saving some from flood waters that rushed through our yard. We got pretty good at placing them on tree trunks where they would cling. We had a squirrel come into our yard to eat some, which caused excitement for us who rarely see squirrels and for the nesting birds who dive-bombed the mammal. It used its tail as a shield to protect itself.
None of our trees suffered any severe damage. They'll live and as I say on many comments about bugs: our plants and trees are food for insects, which in turn are food for something else. It works out, just as it is meant to.
Curious_Arkie
(To the person who said that they 'love this songster...')
I doubt very much that you've spent a LONG, SWELTERING SUMMER in the South-with BILLIONS of these boogers screeching on endlessly...I got so crazy from them once, I SHOT A GUN to stop the sound, and it's like they stopped for a few seconds and said...."hey....what was that?" and then continued on...
aaaaarrrrrgghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At first it's ok, but by the end of the summer it's like a LOUD-high-speed DRILL sound, and the drill bit is drilling INTO YOUR HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I DO like the empty shells still clinging to the trunks tho' --very cool.)
But, I can sure live without that 'song.'
morrigan
slyperso1
A large periodical cicada with broad orange stripes on the underside of the abdomen, and with orange coloration on the sides of the thorax behind each eye and in front of the forewings.
The calling song phrases are said to resemble the word "Pharaoh."
Female periodical cicadas have a pointed abdomen with an ovipositor for laying eggs. The ovipositor is sheathed and not clearly visible.
Males have a blunter abdomen and white, ribbed tymbals located on the sides of the first abdominal segment, just behind the point of attachment of the hindwings.
Males Magicicada septendecim are bigger than the female.
PattyMarie
The most fun about it all is letting our hens run wild in the front yard filling up on buggy treats.
I am already tired of having to brush off the garden seating every time I want to use them. Plus...a lot of pupa are still emerging. They climb onto anything above ground level, including feet. And the chickens haven't even made a dent in the thousands of cicadas covering all vertical surfaces.
plantaholic186
The sound of the cicadas was wierd; it sounded like a spaceship was landing off in the distance. I actually liked the noise, but I detest these things! In 17 years it won't bother me so much, since my p... read more
Hyblaean
here are the lyrics:
You walked out on me back in nineteen hundred nine-dee.
You left my poor heart danglin' like a bug-shell on a tree.
Now just when I got focused you come back like a locust.
Cicada lover -- stay away from me.
So leave me alone. Don't write, don't fax, don't phone.
How the heck can we communicate when all you do is drone?
I can live with ants and roaches but to you it's buenas noches!
Cicada lover: (Buzz off) yer on yer own.
and the website:
http://www.cicadalove... read more
melody
The nymphs feed on sap from tree roots, where they remain for either 13 or 17 years before emerging from the soil , split their skins and become adults.
They are food for birds and other animals, but create such a mess, that I'd just as soon never see another one.