Anyone else dealing with the "attack of the cicadas 2016"?

[Mr.Marion]

Northeast Ohio is being blanketed by one of the nastiest looking insects you will ever see.






They arrive every 17 years from the depths of hell, leaving a discarded shell in their wake.




They are obviously harmless except for the fact that they give zero f#cks about invading your personal space and are the worst drivers on the insect superhighway. It isn't uncommon for one to fly 50mph right into your face or land on you for no discernible reason.

Right now, my back deck is literally brimming with these little buggers. I counted 20 on one of my lawn chairs.

Anyone else infested?

[4NDR01D]

I love them. I'd imagine in infestation wouldn't be so fun though. We get lots every year, although a few years back was the 17 year cycle, but I don't recall seeing more than usual. Wouldn't thousands of the guys be deafening?

Do you get junebugs?

[PNGwynne]

Not yet. I find them kind of neat, except for the noise when they start trilling in unison.

Some local predator finds them delicious, it's not unusual to find discarded wings laying around in the lawn.

[Hector]

I love insects (except mosquitoes)...that sucker looks awesome.

No swarms of those in my area...

[gummi]

I'm in central Ohio and haven't seen any yet. I checked the map, and I look to be right on the line, so may not see any around here. Aside from taking a few to the face on the motorcycle, I kind of enjoy these little guys.

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

It is my spirit insect! I would love to see a swarm at some point in person.

[Mr.Marion]

Not yet. I find them kind of neat, except for the noise when they start trilling in unison.

Some local predator finds them delicious, it's not unusual to find discarded wings laying around in the lawn.

No kidding, I'm glad the birds can have a snack.

Yeah, their mating call is just a constant, very loud pulsating echo of screams. It's enough to keep you up at night.

[Donkey Hoatie]

Nope, we're on a different cycle of them here. For us, it was 1990 and 2007, so we're only halfway there.

And as for them being delicious? Well, I can't say for sure. But, I can say that for a $100 dare and large amount of beer that summer, a live one wasn't THAT bad, from what I vaguely remember.

[PNGwynne]

^You should have roasted it, from what I hear.

[Mikey]

I love them, they are the most non offensive of any bug out there.

[TomStrong]

I remember them when I was a kid in northwest Alabama. We kinda liked them. My sister and I would play with the molted shells. But they do get loud.

[TomStrong]

I love them. I'd imagine in infestation wouldn't be so fun though. We get lots every year, although a few years back was the 17 year cycle, but I don't recall seeing more than usual. Wouldn't thousands of the guys be deafening?

Do you get junebugs?

We got junebugs when I was a kid.We used to tie strings to their legs and fly them around. It was great. Good times, gooood times . . .

[emeraldknight47]

While not an entomologist, I do know that we have locusts (members of the grasshopper family) every summer while the seventeen year cicadas (related to crickets) show up, well, every seventeen years, here in the Ohio Valley. And, of course, at night we have the katydids. I used to actually be afraid of them when I was a little kid until I found out they were largely harmless (unless you inadvertently get dive bombed). As I get older, I find that I actually enjoy hearing them sing since they only do it when the weather is usually warm and balmy. When they stop in the early autumn, I miss their songs and it's nature's reminder that colder weather is on the way. As far as them being tasty, I've never eaten one myself (although I've heard tell they are something of a delicacy and have a nutty flavor), but I did have a cocker spaniel once that made a regular diet of all three species if they were brave enough to be out where she could find them...