Noisy and clumsy, 17-year cicadas are set to emerge from Maryland soil

The Baltimore Sin ^ | April 18, 2004 | Frank D. Roylance and Michael Stroh

[Cincinatus' Wife]

...likens the taste to "cold canned asparagus.".......

Lovely.

The entire article is long but it is amusing and informative.

[SamAdams76]

Low-carb? When do I book my trip?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The drive here might be a bit buggy.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Cicada Watch 2004

[leadpenny]

I've experienced them twice - Fort Knox in 74 and in Northern Virginia about 15 years ago. Road marching with the troops on the range roads at Knox, you couldn't hear yourself think.

They are fascinating and a good way to get kids interested in the wonders of nature.

[pt17]

Dr. John R. Lion, a Baltimore psychiatrist, noted in 1987 that the cicadas' appearance, brief frenzy and death provoked anxiety, revulsion and even suicidal thoughts in some patients.

Gives meaning to the idea that something was bugging these patients.

[Skibane]

Interesting article!

Here in south Texas, we mostly have cicada species that only lie dormant for one or two years, and are roughly as numerous every year. They're sometimes called 'dog day cicadas', since they appear during the dog days of summer. Deafening little buggers...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I experienced the 17 year ones in Arizona, loud and messy but not like what they're describing here. I also have lived with the TX variety, a background annoyance you tune out.

[sauropod]

I remember them in 1987. I was working in the DC suburbs at the time.

Driving down Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park, the sound was deafening!

[leadhead]

Was the publication name deliberate or Freudian?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Terrific! Since moving here, we've had the snipers, record snow in'03, a hurricane and now big, loud, smelly bugs.

[leadhead]

A lot of the critters are in for a big surprise. The woods they lived in are now parking lots, houses or wider roads. Lots of development in Maryland in 17 years.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I was wondering about that. But there still is no ICC. Ha!

[angkor]

One of my childhood neighborhoods is mentioned in the article. Even at night they're so loud it makes sleeping difficult.

[leadpenny]

Driving down Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park, the sound was deafening!

Sounds like fun. Looking forward to it.

[capt. norm]

Once these things start dropping into the waters of lakes and streams, the fish go crazy on them.

You can either use them for bait (or your best hand-tied fly facsimile), or fish as usual later in the season after they've fattened up on these critters for a month or so. Either way you win.

[Clemenza]

I remember being 11 years old and for WEEKS it seemed, all you heard every minute was a loud clacking sound. Looks like we may be just in range again this year.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Time to get a fishing pole!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

........Even at night they're so loud it makes sleeping difficult.

This too shall pass.