THE NATURAL INSECT WONDER THAT COME OUT EVERY 17 YEARS!

(This Post is in case that you are lucky enough to not live in a targeted Cicada state.) SMILE
 
There are about 15 states in the U.S. that Broad X Cicadas call home. Their covered area goes as far north of N.Y (or bit further). Then spread out to Illinois and go further south to probably as far as Georgia. They started to come out in early May and sure enough, since I live in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, one of the most “affected” areas, we are seeing tons of them now. The situation is that we not only get to see them but to hear their loud buzzing, which is quite loud and is also their mating call. I also heard that after they mate they die. Also, even though they come out every 17 years in billions of numbers, few of them emerge some time in between, in insignificant numbers.
 
If you venture out, chances are that you will have an encounter with one or more of them, I mean a personal encounter, like bumping on your face, arms or clothes. They don’t sting, bite or are poisonous to you but they sure are annoying.
 
I believe that they emerge from the earth, 17 years after been feeding on tree roots. You get to see hundreds of holes in the ground because of it. Then they crawl to walls or trees, and there, they slowly emerge from the pupa or cocoon, leave the pupa stuck in the wall or tree and then flying/crawling away.
 
I personally do not know the benefit of these insects to us. However, many people EAT them. (EEWWWW). They fry them, dip them in chocolate, make Mexican food, sandwiches and simply enjoy the strange meal. The “Gourmet Eaters” indicate that Cicadas taste just like shrimp.
Furthermore, they become a feast for birds and dogs, since they also eat them, smile.
 
Perhaps within a month they will be gone for good and will be back within the next 17 years.