7 Year Itch?
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
May 30, 2008 1:07pm CST
No, the 17 year locust (really a periodical cicada, but often confused with the more commonly known name of the locust).
I've been seeing the shell/skeleton of this odd looking bug on some of my irises and hanging on to the side of the house the last few days and had to see if I could find out what it was.
In addition to the shells, I did find some that were still alive, and I thought they were locusts, but wasn't sure.
After some investigation online (that I got paid to do - check my profile), I determined that they were indeed periodical cicadas (some types are actually 13 yr vs 17), and the 'shell' is the skin that they've shed.
I've included a 'before and after' picture that I took yesterday. Isn't it odd that they can crawl out of that skin and leave it behind, intact?
Do you have any of this creatures taking over your area yet?
2 people like this
10 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
30 May 08
No, I don't think these are the regular june bugs that are common. I think those come out every year.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
30 May 08
I've always heard the regular old cicada, but I don't think this is the same thing. This particular type only comes out every 13-17 years!
1 person likes this
@sharkbiter (382)
• United States
1 Jun 08
We have tons of these things in my yard this year. They are all over one of our maple trees. I looked up into the tree the other day and each leaf on the tree had 2-3 shells hanging on them. They are everywhere.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Here too. Every time I walk outside I find more and more, all over the flower stalks, tree trunks, fence, even hanging on the side of the foundation.
It's going to be a bad year for them for sure!
@whittby (3072)
• United States
2 Jun 08
When we lived in Ohio, here we go with my adventures in Ohio again. Anyway, we were in the year where they were all over the place. I took the kids to the Cuyahoga Valley Rec area to see the cicadas. The area was absolutely overwhelmed with them and the kids were fascinated. They even brought home the empty shells, I know Ewwww!
I think there are some type of dessert locusts, but haven't seen any here yet.
Wiki has a nice little action photo of one crawling out of its shell. Interesting little buggers.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
2 Jun 08
They are ALL OVER right now. Each time I open the door I see several on the small porch or steps, and of course all over the flowers and plants.
They are neat, though, in the way they evolve ...
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
28 Jun 08
How unusual! And fascinating! I have not
seen these tiny creatures in our area yet.
I like the idea of studying nature.
I'll check out your links.
Thanks!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 08
They are not very tiny - I'd guess they were about an inch long. And annoying!
@smtrego (181)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Living in Delaware, yes we have to deal with them. We have not seen any so far this year. Like others have said, we had a time a few years ago with them. My husband can't even sleep with the windows open when they are around because they keep him awake.
I remember when I was growing up (in DE), we used to find the shells all over the tree trunks. It reminds me of the way a snake would lose its skin. If you notice, the "claws" on the shell are pretty pointy. We used to pick them off the trees and stick them on people. It's a fun way to scare unsuspecting moms. LOL
We always called them locusts. I had never heard the word cicada until after I had kids. Of course I couldn't tell you the difference between a frog and a toad in the wild or what species of birds I see. I just know their colors and I am lucky if I even get that right. LOL
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Yes, they do shed them much like a snake does. I find that pretty interesting, in an icky sort of way, LOL.
I guess you haven't read the update about Christopher Robin. Please look at my profile for a link to my blog.
1 person likes this
@k1tten (2318)
• United States
30 May 08
We actually have a few that are 9 year I believe. We're safe for a few more years though. lol Our last huge cicada blowout was maybe 3 or so years ago. They were horrible! Everything was covered in them and the animals were having huge fun crunching them and batting them around. Kinda goss watching them munch them though.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
30 May 08
I'm not positive whether these are 13 yr or 17 yr, but I don't guess it really matters.
I just started seeing them a day or two ago and they are already increasing in number. I sure hope it doesn't get real ugly.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
31 May 08
I hate them dang things. Aren't they the ones who make the weird noise in the trees at night time also? We had an episode of cicadas a few years ago and them dang things were everywhere. I can't believe they just come out of their shell like that either. WE had a bad epidemic a few years ago also of tomato worms. they are huge and green and eat your tomatoes and your plants up. We also had a bad episode of bag worms and they almost killed our trees. I haven't seen any of those this year yet but we need to spray our yard again for them.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
31 May 08
I'm not sure if this particular 'variety' is the same as those that sing so much. I think those come out every year, but the type that I'm finding now only come out every 13 or 17 years.
Weird ...
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
30 May 08
Yes we do have them around here. I love finding the shells on our trees. My grandson loves to collect them and put them in a jar. LOL It is amazing how they can leave the shell in tact when they crawl out, sort of like a snake skin, which we found two of while we were cleaning in shed at my parents' house this past weekend. Whew! what a whopper one of them was! I love to hear the locust when they start "hollering". Enjoy!
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
30 May 08
It was funny because the first one I saw was on the iris the other day, and I thought it was still alive. I looked later and it was still there and I thought hmm, he's having a long lunch.
I looked closer only to see that it was what he left behind as he ventured out on his new life.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
31 May 08
hi Ldyjarhead I have not noticed any cicadas here in
Southern Ca but back where i grew up in S.D. we had
tons of them in the summer and the noise they made
at night was almost unbearable. lol
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
31 May 08
Ah yes, the song of the cicadas. Very loud, annoying at times, but also comforting, because you know it's summer!
