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wut do u mean by mound
Cicadas every 17 years?
- Thread starter scorpio
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damn it! I remember when I lived in MS we had them one year. Now, I'm way the hell out in Oregon, and we don't get them here 
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Cicadas come up from under the ground. When there is a rather large number of them, you will see the ground raised and openings form for them to come out. They are referred to as "Cicada chimneys" sometimes and are made out of dirt and cicada spit or so I have heard.Longbord1 said:
Here is a pic of one that is complete. Mine isn't quite this high yet.
http://www.cicadamania.org/gallery/chimney.html
In other areas, a handful of cicadas are already flying around... Early birds or ummm bugs.
I don't have a digital camera or else I'd photograph what is in my yard. Sorry
I thought I had NEVER heard of Cicadas, until both of my kids came home from school with flyers about them. Unfortunately it didn't show me a picture, so I was still clueless.
Well, this morning it was on the front page of the newspaper - WITH some pictures.
Here is my question: From the pic in the paper, and the info I found on the web, I believe to have quite a few of them each and every year. I've found molts on my fence, some of my trees, and clothesline ever since we moved here 5 years ago. Are those different Cicadas? Looking at the pics I've found, and the sites you guys listed in the post, they look identical. They are noisy as heck, but kind of awesome-looking. Massive, bulky, quick, colorful.
Another question: When we lived in Oklahoma, we had them too. I remember my Golden Retriever catching one once and playing with it. Each time he put his paw on it, the thing would stop making that sound, and the second my dog released the pressure the thing would start the chirping/sawing noise.
Aren't those generally the same bugs? I mean those that emerge every 17 years, and those that we have annually??
Thanks for any help or input.
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Wendy
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Well, this morning it was on the front page of the newspaper - WITH some pictures.
Here is my question: From the pic in the paper, and the info I found on the web, I believe to have quite a few of them each and every year. I've found molts on my fence, some of my trees, and clothesline ever since we moved here 5 years ago. Are those different Cicadas? Looking at the pics I've found, and the sites you guys listed in the post, they look identical. They are noisy as heck, but kind of awesome-looking. Massive, bulky, quick, colorful.
Another question: When we lived in Oklahoma, we had them too. I remember my Golden Retriever catching one once and playing with it. Each time he put his paw on it, the thing would stop making that sound, and the second my dog released the pressure the thing would start the chirping/sawing noise.
Aren't those generally the same bugs? I mean those that emerge every 17 years, and those that we have annually??
Thanks for any help or input.
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Wendy
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There are actually two cycles of the "swarms." A 17 year cycle and (I believe) a 9 year cycle. (I'm sure I'll be corrected quickly if the 9 is wrong) You can also find cicadas in small numbers just about every year. The cycles referred to are just the swarms that appear. I'm just not looking forward to the inevitable year when both cycles become active simultainously.
Jeri
Jeri
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Broods
There are 17 year cicadas and 13 year cicadas. They emerge on prime numbered years so that they don't mate with each other and create problems for themselves except on the rare case that the numbers occur together (221 years). Every year or so you see a handful from one of the smaller broods, but this year is going to be THE BIG ONE.
Here is a list of when and where they hit
I have only seen about a dozen or so on my tree in the front yard and about 20+ squashed cicadas at work.
There are 17 year cicadas and 13 year cicadas. They emerge on prime numbered years so that they don't mate with each other and create problems for themselves except on the rare case that the numbers occur together (221 years). Every year or so you see a handful from one of the smaller broods, but this year is going to be THE BIG ONE.
Here is a list of when and where they hit
I have only seen about a dozen or so on my tree in the front yard and about 20+ squashed cicadas at work.
Kopys creepers
Arachnopeon
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As far as feeding cicadas to your "t's" I can only think that this is a creature who has spent 17 years in a larval state underground absorbing all the diferent things we spread on the ground. So if I were gonna get me some I would find some uncontaminated area and collect them there. Then all you need worry about are small parasites you can't see. Other than that I guess you could feed them to your "t's" duegots, Jaimie
duegots, Jaimie
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The cicadas that are causing all the fuss are the periodical cicadas. Not all cicadas have these "cycles" however. The common and large dogday cicada (Tibicen canicularis), for example, is seen every year. It takes 3 years to develop, but does NOT emerge in sycronized generations, so you see the about the same amout every year.
Also, different population emerge in different years, so not everyone within the periodical cicada's range is going to see massive numbers this year.
Wade
Also, different population emerge in different years, so not everyone within the periodical cicada's range is going to see massive numbers this year.
Wade
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ok so whats the deal I live in a known region but I haven't seen or heard a single cicada yet this year... not even a nymph or whatever you call the juviniles
Oh oooh.
I just cleaned up dog poop in my back yard a little while ago, and as I was doing my round, I noticed a heap of dirt in the lawn that just did not belong there.
Checked the link Bark attached in one of his threads to see the picture of a chimney. Mine looks like that, only a bit smaller.
We've been having rather warm weather for the past few days, except yesterday. Today it's REALLY hot and humid, so now I'm wondering if what I found is in fact the "chimney" I should look out for.
My development is about 15-18 years old, and from what people have told me, woods used to be here before the houses were put up.
Should I brace myself???
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Wendy
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I just cleaned up dog poop in my back yard a little while ago, and as I was doing my round, I noticed a heap of dirt in the lawn that just did not belong there.
Checked the link Bark attached in one of his threads to see the picture of a chimney. Mine looks like that, only a bit smaller.
We've been having rather warm weather for the past few days, except yesterday. Today it's REALLY hot and humid, so now I'm wondering if what I found is in fact the "chimney" I should look out for.
My development is about 15-18 years old, and from what people have told me, woods used to be here before the houses were put up.
Should I brace myself???
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Wendy
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Could also be a crayfish chimney, as they look alot like that as well.
Wade
Wade
Whaaaat???Wade said:
Crayfish???But don't crayfish need water around? The closest "ditch" from my house is about 30'.
I'll be looking up crayfish now....whatever built that heap in my yard, it wasn't my dogs, that much I know for sure. I poked around at/in it, but came up empty-handed. I don't believe ants did this, I've seen ant mounts.
One thing's for sure - I'll be keeping a close eye on it.
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Wendy
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PS. I tried taking a picture of it, but my batteries are completely dead, and I don't have any more replacements.
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Some species of crayfish can live a surprising distance from open water by burrowing down to where the ground is wet enough to fill the lower reaches of the burrows with water. They will emerge at night to feed on fallen leaves and other organic debris.
Wade
Wade
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Socrates
Wade may be right about crayfish, but according to this wonderful map drawn in state of the art MS paint, NJ is in the "red" zone. They come up first in the South and work their way North. My mound came up over a week before I saw my first flying cicada. I didn't see anything leave it though (Possibly because I sprayed Weed BGone nearby).
The cicadas started singing today in my 'hood. So far they aren't so bad. They mostly sing in the day....mostly
Wade may be right about crayfish, but according to this wonderful map drawn in state of the art MS paint, NJ is in the "red" zone. They come up first in the South and work their way North. My mound came up over a week before I saw my first flying cicada. I didn't see anything leave it though (Possibly because I sprayed Weed BGone nearby).
The cicadas started singing today in my 'hood. So far they aren't so bad. They mostly sing in the day....mostly
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Bark said:
hahahaahah... brilliant. Freaking brilliant. Best newt quote usage ever.
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Fed one to my male 5 inch P.Vespertinus ... it is a big ol fatty now. but LOVED IT... took him 4 hours or so to finish it.
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I have been wanting to try that. But I have only been able to get my hands on dead ones. Maybe I should feed my T a dead one instead...
The cicadas are actually causing some traffic issues on the South side of our Beltway. There are trees on both sides and the cicadas like to fly back and forth through all 7 lanes of 55 mph traffic (4 going North, 3 South). And you thought frogger had it bad.