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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: fohat.digs on Mon, 10 May 2021, 10:51:20

Title: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 10 May 2021, 10:51:20
A quick stroll around my fence tallied over 100 larvae crawling up, with 5 on the bird house alone.
My birds are going to be gorged. I will pick up a few dozen and try some cooking experiments.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: Olumin on Mon, 10 May 2021, 11:05:15
I will pick up a few dozen and try some cooking experiments.

For YOU or the birds to eat?
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 10 May 2021, 11:09:56
I will pick up a few dozen and try some cooking experiments.

For YOU or the birds to eat?

They're edible.  Not that Tp4 recommends it. Humans are Herbivores.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 10 May 2021, 11:29:20

Humans are Herbivores.


The creatures are all-natural and their existence does not contribute to the degradation of the planet.

https://www.cicadamania.com/ (https://www.cicadamania.com/)

TL;DR

"Once the cicada hatches from the egg it will begin to feed on the tree fluids. At this point, it looks like a termite or small white ant. Once the young cicada is ready, it crawls from the groove and falls to the ground where it will dig until it finds roots to feed on. It will typically start with smaller grass roots and work its way up to the roots of its host tree. The cicada will stay underground from 2 to 17 years depending on the species. Cicadas are active underground, tunneling, and feeding, and not sleeping or hibernating as commonly thought.

After the long 2 to 17 years, cicadas emerge from the ground as nymphs. Nymphs climb the nearest available vertical surface (usually a plant) and begin to shed their nymph exoskeleton. Free of their old skin, their wings will inflate with fluid (haemolymph) and their adult skin will harden (sclerotize). Once their new wings and body are ready, they can begin their brief adult life.

Adult cicadas, also called imagoes, spend their time in trees looking for a mate. Males sing (or otherwise vibrate the air or their surroundings), females respond, mating begins, and the cycle of life begins again."
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: iri on Mon, 10 May 2021, 17:12:20
I will pick up a few dozen and try some cooking experiments.

For YOU or the birds to eat?
Fohat is keeping us in suspense
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 10 May 2021, 19:04:13
To be honest, there is a group of doves that relentlessly empties one of my bird feeders while carelessly wasting the majority of it. I wouldn't mind eating them, too.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: noisyturtle on Mon, 10 May 2021, 20:14:53
To be honest, there is a group of doves that relentlessly empties one of my bird feeders while carelessly wasting the majority of it. I wouldn't mind eating them, too.


text me that cicada-dove pie recipe
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 12 May 2021, 09:26:50
I have to catch the little ***** first. At least the cicadas, after they are spent, just let you pick them up and put them in the jar.

Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: Faceman76 on Wed, 12 May 2021, 09:38:28
I had a dove as a pet, they can be pretty cool.  Dumb, but cool.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 12 May 2021, 09:53:48
asdf
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: F eq ma on Thu, 13 May 2021, 22:16:50
Long time bird feeder here.   The trick for stopping birds throwing feed all over is to use sunflower seed (favorite in Missouri) or another single type on the top feeder.  Then throw millet on the ground.    Birds tend to want what they want and throw everything else out of the way.   That mix bird food with everything in one bag is the devil.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 14 May 2021, 09:07:25

throw millet on the ground


No. The ground is not visible from my window, and the reason that I feed birds is to provide for my own entertainment. They aren't going to get rewarded unless they stage a performance for me.

The fence around the bottle's mouth works well, it is difficult to empty that compartment with a mere the swipe of a wing. Now my cardinals, finches, and other small birds can get their chance at it.

Above the bottle feeder are other feeders containing sunflower seeds, thistle, and suet.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 16 May 2021, 21:55:18
The numbers mount.

Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: MIGHTY CHICKEN on Sun, 16 May 2021, 22:40:12
Burn everything
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: phinix on Tue, 18 May 2021, 03:00:55
The numbers mount.

Wooow, that is.. a lot.
By the way, I read that bit about life of cicadas - it is interesting!  :p
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: Sintpinty on Sat, 22 May 2021, 21:37:30
A quick stroll around my fence tallied over 100 larvae crawling up, with 5 on the bird house alone.
My birds are going to be gorged. I will pick up a few dozen and try some cooking experiments.

is that the bug that makes the loud noise
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 24 May 2021, 10:58:31
crickets are also loud,
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 23 February 2024, 14:30:58
I just read that this year will be another big year for cicadas in the EAstern US, and/but I will be amazed if it is as huge as it was in 2021.

Apparently there will be 2 broods that coincide (17-year "Brood XIII" and 13-year "Brood XIX") around Illinois and Indiana, and that is where they will see - and HEAR - the biggest event.


Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 23 February 2024, 14:36:38
Haven't heard ne yet.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 23 February 2024, 14:37:59
Around here they peaked about mid-May.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: SageCrowDesign on Sat, 24 February 2024, 03:17:39
I find their sound somewhat comforting, but that is too many right next to your house!
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Sat, 24 February 2024, 08:30:30
During the last emergence a few years ago, my son and I were sitting on the patio late in the afternoon, and the sound was very loud and the millions of voices blended into what seemed like a single consistent, gently pulsing sound wash. Eventually he said that he had it - the sound was very similar to the sound of the phasers on the original series of Star Trek.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 24 February 2024, 08:58:47
It's ok when you have millions, but if you get just that 1 Cricker in the house, jesus, he just goes off whenever he wants to, and won't let you sleep.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: noisyturtle on Sat, 24 February 2024, 16:42:18
When I was a kid in the 80s I remember they hit super hard one Summer. The entire sides of the houses, all the trees in the neighborhood, all the posts on the deck, and wooden fences - absolutely coated in them. Brushing the shells off reminded me of brushing chicken pox off your skin, they were that dense.

I don't see many insects any more, just in general. I feel like the disappearance of insects in the World is an important thing no one is talking about.
Title: Re: All Cicadas all the time
Post by: fohat.digs on Sat, 24 February 2024, 17:42:06

the disappearance of insects in the World


A few years ago we had a huge hatch, and since they have been referred to as a "food" since prehistory (Kosher laws actually make a special exception to allow "locusts" to be eaten) I started collecting them. It was easy because they are so docile, a standard baggie holds about 50 and I put them straight into the freezer even though that is probably not a pleasant death for an insect.

But then I read that they had just spent 13 years underground as grubs, absorbing toxins being sprayed by my neighbors. Ugh. So they went into the compost.