Get Out Your Earplugs
The cicadas are coming! The cicadas are coming! This time, they’re known as Brood XIII.
It sounds like a bad horror movie. But it’s actually the name of the billions of cicadas expected to emerge this month in parts of the Midwest after spending 17 years underground.
The red-eyed, shrimp-sized, flying insects don’t bite or sting. But they are known for mating calls that produce a din that can overpower ringing telephones, lawn mowers and power tools.
What a gross bug. I hates them, even if they’re supposedly delicious cooked in a quiche. Luckily, my state’s not due for their 17-year crop until 2015… by which time I plan to move to a state that’s just been through their periodic swarm. Kim, who lives in Illinois, isn’t going to be so lucky, though.
Baahh, you big babies. Cicadas are the most harmless and cleanest of insects. When I was a kid we would catch them and keep them as pets. You could get them to hook on to your lapel and it would look as though you were wearing a scarab brooch. You can also practice your snap shooting with them. I strongly recommend an Airsoft or paintball pistol — not a real firearm or metal pellet BB gun.
I lived through a swarm in Tennessee once. It is a memory not soon forgotten. It happened when I was in high school (21 years ago).
Not only do I feel gross reading about those bugs…I feel old now too.
… thanks ::: sigh :::
They’re due to emerge tonight. I’ll be posting pictures as soon as I can and maybe even an audio file of the lovely sound!
Yep, tonight they say will be the night for me too.