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Manchester, Maryland

The 17 Year Cicadas are due to return this year throughout much of the eastern United States. For those who don't know, these cicadas are large, black, flying insects with a pretty remarkable life cycle; every 17 years, after an extended larval stage, great numbers of them emerge from the ground to eat, breed, live for about two weeks, and die. They are also commonly known as the 17 Year Locusts.

I remember the last time the cicadas were around, in 1987. There were so many of them, you couldn't even walk down a sidewalk without stepping on one.

They are due to be back again toward the end of May. I am concerned they will be a menace to my pumpkin plants.

Does anybody know if cicadas eat pumpkin leaves? Any ideas on the best strategies for defending ones plants against this comming plague of locusts?

2/16/2004 7:24:50 PM

Indiana

I had several around and didnt have a problem with them last year. The locust plagues of biblical times are the flying grasshoppers you see today.
Steve

2/16/2004 8:10:51 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

I have a few of them every year! Never a problem. Many on different cycles. The biggest mass recently for me was about 5-6 years ago. No problem then either. I like 'em. When they come, here's what you need to do...go fishing! The fish LOVE them. BF

2/17/2004 3:01:03 PM

Oz

i dont belive the adults eat anything.
they bore into trees to lay eggs.
the pupa then fall onto the ground and and dig in.

2/17/2004 3:04:56 PM

[email protected]

This is true. Adults don't eat much. Mostly just leaves of the trees to which the sit in annoying us with their buzzing. The larval stage does wreak havok on whatever roots they encounter. I found a few conventional Cicada larvae while tilling last year. Fed them to my Boxer dog Duke. Lot's of protein & very low fat.

2/17/2004 5:31:39 PM

Norton, MA

Where are they expected to reach? Alex.

2/17/2004 5:52:25 PM

Key West, FL

When I was a kid and lived in Maryland my dog used to catch and eat those things.

2/17/2004 6:25:59 PM

Montoursville, PA

When I was in Japan I learned to eat them chocolate covered as well as several other dreaded insects. They can be tastey with the wings removed and lightly salted for the roast and toast over the smokey hardwood campfire.

This might be the year you can educate yourself to the finner eating discoverys of internatinal associates. It would be a shame to let your hound dog get them all.

2/18/2004 10:07:44 AM