Wednesday, June 2, 2004

One Cicada, Two Cicada ...

They’re back! Or at least, they soon will be.

Billions, perhaps trillions, of cicadas are beginning to emerge from their 17-year subterranean nap and are descending on states from the mid-Atlantic to the Midwest. Just how many of the insects the average homeowner can expect to see (or hear) remains to be seen (or heard).

This remarkable natural event has happened many times before. The last massive cicada invasion occurred back in 1987, when Ronald Reagan was president and gasoline cost less than 90 cents a gallon. Now, the larvae from the class of ‘87 are tunneling their way back to the surface.

When the insects emerge, they will climb into trees to shed their skins, sprout glorious, transparent wings, and fly off in search of a companion. If they manage to dodge hungry predators such as birds and squirrels, the female cicadas will eventually lay her eggs, then die. After the eggs hatch, the larvae will burrow back into the ground where they will feed on tree roots, and won’t be heard from again until the spring of 2021. Lord only knows who will be president then, and what the price of gasoline may be!

More annoying than destructive or dangerous, the first cicada nymphs began appearing in early May and will continue to rise from their entombment until mid-June. Cicadas are not dangerous to humans, they don?t sting or bite, but their feet do have small spikes which can scratch if handled. And because their aerobatic skills are somewhat erratic, the awkward insects can appear from nowhere, perhaps flying clumsily into one?s hair, which can startle children (and adults).

But the greatest danger may be to pets. Some dogs and cats won’t be able to resist the opportunity to feast on a crunchy cicada snack. The hard exoskeleton can become lodged in their throats. Even if Rover does manage to swallow the tough skinned critters, they are difficult to digest. So keep those pussies and pooches well fed!

Fortunately, cicadas don’t have the appetite of their more ravenous locust cousins, which destroy all plant life in their path. Cicadas merely suck the sap from deciduous trees, such as maples, oaks and fruit trees, perhaps killing a few branches in the process. Obviously, large numbers can be more destructive, particularly to citrus orchards.

Cicadas are best known for making an ear piercing noise. The eerie sound is produced by the males, from a rapidly vibrating drum-like membrane on the insect’s abdomen. The frequency and tone of their calls vary with temperature and the time of day. Each of the hundreds of different cicada species has a unique call.

Most experts recommend doing nothing if only a few cicadas take up residence in your yard. Running around spraying cans of Raid will likely do more environmental damage than a few cicadas ever could.

Of course, if you’re not picking up good vibrations from your noisy backyard guests, you could always follow the example of the Bloomington, Ind., man who devised his own cicada eradication solution. Working on the principle that "turnabout is fair play," the man ate some 30 cicadas in mid-May. He soon developed an allergic response and required brief hospitalization.

If the thought of a similar culinary experience is irresistible, it would be wise to consult a doctor if you suffer from food allergies. Your physician may also recommend that a short visit to the psychiatric ward might be beneficial.

— Nick Thomas

Nick Thomas (nthomas@mail.aum.edu) is a freelance writer in Montgomery, Alabama. He writes a weekly column about animals and nature called "It?s A Jungle Out There!" for the Millbrook Independent.