Comments on: After 17 Years, the Northeast Is About to Be Blanketed by a Swarm of Cicadas

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:04:22 +0000

Harmless until you hit one while riding on a motorcycle. OUCH!

By: Enook

Enook — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:09:34 +0000

I would love for somebody to send me a Tupperware container of cicadas. We fried them, they’re delicious!!!!!

By: mary

mary — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:09:29 +0000

Basketpam, at least they dont come in your house to hibernate like stinkbugs…I’d far rather listen to them singing in the trees…which I find quite pleasant to hear. Be glad for “natural” wonders….what would this world be like without the humming of bees, chirping of crickets etc. a very empty “natural” world if you ask me.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:27:15 +0000

The reason for a 17-year cycle isn’t truly known, but I think a good guess would be that broods are unlikely to compete for the same resources if they all emerge in prime-number cycles. The 17-year and 13-year broods would only overlap every (17*13) years.

By: basketpam

basketpam — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:44:56 +0000

Oh how annoying! These things seem to get EVERYWHERE when they hatch. I don’t know what’s worse, cicadas or stink bugs. I almost think I’d rather have the cicadas every year and the stink bugs on a 17 year cycle. I realize this is all part of our “natural” world but sometimes as a homeowner and gardener I wish the world would be a little less “natural”! I hope this isn’t another one of those years I feel as if I’m dealing with the 10 plagues of Egypt. One year I felt as if I had the 10 plagues visit me. Between insects, critters of one sort or another and a few other disasters I certainly felt like an Egyptian. I pray it’s not another one of those years!

By: GarethBannister

GarethBannister — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:35:25 +0000

We have a variation of these guys in South Africa and they are also in the trees…they also make a huge racket and I’m sure they make good bird food too lol

By: Ann Deluty

Ann Deluty — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:34:51 +0000

Are they edible. I am thinking lots of salsa maybe some shredded cheese

By: rkba

rkba — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:40:37 +0000

Here in Arizona, they come every year, forecasting the upcoming monsoon season.

By: JacksonDeLand

JacksonDeLand — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:33:56 +0000

I love these guys! They were worshipped by the Ancient Chinese! There is nothing like their singing on a hot Southern Evening. I have huge oaks lining the avenue in front of my house, it’s wonderful to sit in the evening and listen.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:30:13 +0000

I think that was brood x we got back in 04. Brood 2 is due this year. Good news for us exterminators.

By: John

John — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:11:18 +0000

I know that the south has the same cicadas . Are we on a different 17 year cycle?

By: Lorraine Feather

Lorraine Feather — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:34:46 +0000

Thanks for the exciting news about the cicadas! I co-wrote a song about them some years back and just put it on my home page in honor of the occasion. Was happy at the time to learn that “cicada” can be pronounced two ways. I was hard pressed to come up with a rhyme, the way people usually say it.

By: Mstump

Mstump — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:48:19 +0000

Oh no. You’re right. I was hoping I had another 8 years!

Great article!

By: Mstump

Mstump — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:40:19 +0000

I’m not sure this is right. We had the 17-year Brood X in 2004, which means this brood won’t return until 2021. I’m hearing that the 13-year brood (II perhaps?) is due back this year, though. Can you confirm?