They’re back & ready to make some noise!

nivek

As Above So Below
Millions of Cicadas Will Re-Emerge in These States After 17 Years Underground
d79a8d40a4762c8e0129d8351497ed6b

They’re back and ready to make some noise! Those bulbous-eyed, noisy little critters known as cicadas are emerging from the soil as we speak. After 17 years of underground living, millions of these bad boys are ready to stretch their wings and give Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia a very loud wakeup call.

Let’s refresh: Cicadas are known for their unique life cycle. According to National Geographic, there are roughly 3,000 species of this insect. While some species reappear annually (such as dog-day cicadas) others take a break for either 13 or 17 years.

Many of these years spent down below are developmental years as cicadas grow from nymph to adult, but much about their time underground remains “one of the great mysteries of the insect world,” according to a press release from Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology.

Known as periodic cicadas, these species reside and develop in the soil for a number of years before surfacing in massive swarms. This year, Brood IX will take over parts of Southwest Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia, the department writes. As many as 1.5 million cicadas will span per acre in these areas. “People who live in these regions will experience a unique natural phenomenon that has not occurred in most of the area since 2003-04.”


Are cicadas dangerous?

When more than 1 million bugs spontaneously pop out of the soil at the same time, it’s a pretty big deal. While these insects are generally harmless (they do not sting or bite), female cicadas can cause damage to trees when laying eggs.

It all has to do with the way female cicadas lay their eggs. As Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology writes “Cicada females select pencil-width branches or vines, then implant their eggs into them using a sharp egg laying tube called an ovipositor.”

The nymphs will later hatch from the eggs and drop down to the soil, where they will burrow themselves and start feeding on the plants’ roots. The feeding part is harmless to the tree; however, the part where the eggs are implanted into the branches can cause splits and withers in the tree. Cicada females have the potential to stunt a tree’s growth or kill it completely, just by laying their eggs. For orchard owners, vineyard managers, or anyone who grows trees, the emergence of cicadas in their area can be deleterious.


Why are cicadas so noisy?

Cicadas are known for their buzzing and clicking sounds and when in large packs, it can create quite a disturbance. While the sounds produced varies by species, the noises we hear are mating calls from male cicadas attempting to attract the females, Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology explains.


How long will Brood IX swarm affected areas?

Fortunately, these periodic broods typically last four to six weeks before disappearing. While the generation will die off, it will have left its eggs. Nymphs will hatch from the eggs and make a home for themselves under the soil until it’s time to shine, years from now. And so on.


 

nivek

As Above So Below
I haven't seen nor heard them out yet but expecting them anytime now, I remember the last time they came out, it was just a few years after I moved to this state...

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Ron67

Ignorance isn’t bliss!
Millions of Cicadas Will Re-Emerge in These States After 17 Years Underground
d79a8d40a4762c8e0129d8351497ed6b

They’re back and ready to make some noise! Those bulbous-eyed, noisy little critters known as cicadas are emerging from the soil as we speak. After 17 years of underground living, millions of these bad boys are ready to stretch their wings and give Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia a very loud wakeup call.

Let’s refresh: Cicadas are known for their unique life cycle. According to National Geographic, there are roughly 3,000 species of this insect. While some species reappear annually (such as dog-day cicadas) others take a break for either 13 or 17 years.

Many of these years spent down below are developmental years as cicadas grow from nymph to adult, but much about their time underground remains “one of the great mysteries of the insect world,” according to a press release from Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology.

Known as periodic cicadas, these species reside and develop in the soil for a number of years before surfacing in massive swarms. This year, Brood IX will take over parts of Southwest Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia, the department writes. As many as 1.5 million cicadas will span per acre in these areas. “People who live in these regions will experience a unique natural phenomenon that has not occurred in most of the area since 2003-04.”


Are cicadas dangerous?

When more than 1 million bugs spontaneously pop out of the soil at the same time, it’s a pretty big deal. While these insects are generally harmless (they do not sting or bite), female cicadas can cause damage to trees when laying eggs.

It all has to do with the way female cicadas lay their eggs. As Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology writes “Cicada females select pencil-width branches or vines, then implant their eggs into them using a sharp egg laying tube called an ovipositor.”

The nymphs will later hatch from the eggs and drop down to the soil, where they will burrow themselves and start feeding on the plants’ roots. The feeding part is harmless to the tree; however, the part where the eggs are implanted into the branches can cause splits and withers in the tree. Cicada females have the potential to stunt a tree’s growth or kill it completely, just by laying their eggs. For orchard owners, vineyard managers, or anyone who grows trees, the emergence of cicadas in their area can be deleterious.


Why are cicadas so noisy?

Cicadas are known for their buzzing and clicking sounds and when in large packs, it can create quite a disturbance. While the sounds produced varies by species, the noises we hear are mating calls from male cicadas attempting to attract the females, Virginia Tech’s Department of Entomology explains.


How long will Brood IX swarm affected areas?

Fortunately, these periodic broods typically last four to six weeks before disappearing. While the generation will die off, it will have left its eggs. Nymphs will hatch from the eggs and make a home for themselves under the soil until it’s time to shine, years from now. And so on.



Love stuff like this and Mr Attenborough still going strong aged 94.
 

michael59

Celestial
How big are they? Do they live long after they plant their eggs? In the picture, they look too perfect to be real. lol
 

nivek

As Above So Below
How big are they? Do they live long after they plant their eggs? In the picture, they look too perfect to be real. lol

Oh they are quite real and quite loud lol...Their size varies from about 2 cm to 5.5 cm long and colour varies some too and they can have red, white or blue eyes...I think they live just a few weeks after laying eggs for the next generation...

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michael59

Celestial
Oh they are quite real and quite loud lol...Their size varies from about 2 cm to 5.5 cm long and colour varies some too and they can have red, white or blue eyes...I think they live just a few weeks after laying eggs for the next generation...

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Yes, I know they are real and really on their way. lol

I meant the picture you posted was so perfect, that they don't look real. This is what they looked like when I watch a short clip about them on The Weather Network...

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:)
 

nivek

As Above So Below
I still haven't heard them yet in my area, we have some thunderstorms coming the next few days I kind of expect them to probably start popping out of the ground after that...lol

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nivek

As Above So Below
They're out and about now, I hear them everywhere since we had a heavy rain storm a couple days go...I'm outside trimming low hanging tree branches and bushes right now, I also see them in the trees...

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michael59

Celestial
They're out and about now, I hear them everywhere since we had a heavy rain storm a couple days go...I'm outside trimming low hanging tree branches and bushes right now, I also see them in the trees...

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What are you using to trim with? If it's just clippers then they probably won't freak out. If you use electric/gas hedge trimmers you will probably not only be seeing them but wearing them. lol
 

nivek

As Above So Below
What are you using to trim with? If it's just clippers then they probably won't freak out. If you use electric/gas hedge trimmers you will probably not only be seeing them but wearing them. lol

I'm old fashioned just using a hand pruner and clippers lol, it's more work but good exercise type work however it's almost 90 degrees outside and humid, so 20 minutes outside and 10 minutes back in the AC and cold iced tea to cool off...

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Rick Hunter

Celestial
Only seen a few here in Kentucky, and they don't look like the 13 or 17 year type. We received a Biblical plague of them in 1991, haven't seen anything like it since.
 
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