I heard the in 1987 when the cicadas were here they had a slight "P" on their wings... signaling peace... and now if you look at them, you can see a "W" signaling war... does anyone know any more about this?

If they hung around all summer eating your crops and growing -- that's locusts, a type of grasshopper ( or is it vice versa?) made infamous in the Bible.

If they came out all at once, full-grown, made a lot of noise and bug sex, then died, they were cicadas.

I was in Baltimore a few days ago, and though I only saw a couple in the city, in the burbs they are everywhere. They sound like aliens (think 50's sci fi films).

No cicadas in Columbus. We'll probably get swarmed during the Memorial Golf Tournament.

We had locusts every summer (which runs for half the year) in Houston. Different sound. We also has flying cockroaches- big heavy ones that would fly around the house and bump into walls. That is the biggest reason I am glad I don't live there anymore.
I know the cicadas don't go back in th eground, but I wish they would. It's getting way too gross.

They were mistakenly called locusts but they like crickets and grasshoppers are a different species than cicadas in French, Cigales) This 17 year variety is very large in size than other cicadas. They differ in where the sound comes from. they have cymbal like things on their sides. The smaller New England ones we here only come out as in Provence in the late /August heat.

P.S. By early june after mating the poor dears will be dead.

As a kid we would sneak up on them and grab them by the wings (both wings at once)... then while I held the wings my sister would tie a thread around the body. Voila! A flying bug on a string... how fun! You gotta hope they pee before they run into you, though!
We have several varieties here in Texas... really big brown ones, the body is about 2" long and small green ones which are about 1/2 the size. I also see small brown ones. Last year I did not see any at all because we too live in a new development and the cycle must have been upset.
In moderation I enjoy cicadas. They remind me of a fun childhood, just like homemade ice cream and chasing lightening bugs.

The little guys are all over the trees and the fence, grass, and flowers. It is so loud outside you have to come back inside.

Sounds like the War of the Worlds movie did!!

The cicada noise in the older neighborhoods of Baltimore and the surrounding areas is almost deafening especially in the afternoon (they are quiet at night). The noise is about 90dB (and we're not into full bloom yet) - as loud as a vacuum cleaner. They are starting to randomly fly or float around, bumping into things. The smell of their rotting or smashed bodies is getting distinct. I am converting from complete terror (I was in Maryland for the last invasion 17 years ago) to fascination. The timing and process is pure "nature" right in front of me. Some dogs in the area (not mine - whew) are eating lots of them and are getting sick - vomiting. The birds and squirrels (and some people) are eating them and seem very happy.

Cicadas don't hit western Nebraska until late summer. It's actually kind of comforting...when we start hearing them at night I know the start of school and the cooler fall weather aren't far off.

Now miller moths, on the other hand...Satan's little playmates. HATE THEM! They hit our area right about now for one month. Harmless but disgusting. Like the cicadas, they swarm at night. The best way to get rid of them is to put a big pan of soapy water under a lamp (with the rest of the room dark) and watch them dive bomb into the suds and drown. My 12 year old daughter has a huge miller phobia--I just got back from doing 'miller patrol' in her room before bedtime.

yeah, it's funny - there was a picture and little story in the Wash. DC paper about the cicadas being louder than the allowable noise level. So I was wondering - is someone going to fine them?

Would someone send me one that's in good shape

Whatever happened to the recording artist John Cicada?

Last I knew John Secada was in the Broadway revival of "Caberet" in the Joel Grey role. :-)

Sure Mimi they're everywhere, dead or alive? :-D

Cicadas are flying all over DC as I type.

send me a dead in good shape one to put in a shadow box, indy. we won't get them til 2008 here.

So funny as I lived in "DC" '67-'75.
These guys are here in Dallas each year in way smaller numbers.
They are great pet food and make wonderful pizza toppings - no carbs!
M

No problem cigale, I have your address.

I'll send it Tuesday. If I put it in the mail tomorrow it'll just sit in a hot post office for two days with the holiday. Don't know if it would matter or not but it might make it squishy. Yuck!