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.
Monday, May 21st, 2007, 11:00 am | 
Blog bites, Odd Bites | 
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May 21, 2007 at 11:17 am
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.
May 21, 2007 at 12:03 pm
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 :::
May 21, 2007 at 11:05 pm
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!
May 22, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Yep, tonight they say will be the night for me too.