anyone see the cicadas yet?

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i was just reading up about the damage cicadas can do and wondering if they were late emerging? or could it be because we've had some really wacky weather and that is why we haven't seen/heard them yet? the article i was reading said they should emerge about the 3rd week of May and i know i haven't seen any of these big bugs in my yard yet. i am worried of the damage they could do to my fruit trees i planted last and this year. :/ there are tons of other trees in my yard but the fruit trees are my main concern since i just spent all that time grafting them and money to buy the others from suppliers.

has anyone seen signs of them yet?

 

[bj taylor]

I haven't seen or heard any yet. I just saw a lightning bug the other night. way late for them.

 

[majorcatfish]

not yet, not missing their noise either........ knock on wood

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

in the process of looking for organic control methods for keeping these pests in check i found out there is a wasp that likes to kill cicadas and doesn't really bother people. http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/cicada-killer-wasps.aspx#axzz2UipCSakH i guess there really is a need to have a lush lawn. seems to be the best attractant to keeping these wasps in the area.

 

[secuono]

I've seen them for about 2wks now. I first saw the holes in the clay, where my dog runs his stupid face off, and then later I started finding the left over shells on trees and tall grass

 

[bj taylor]

I love their voices. it is the sound of a soft southern night

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i remember them the last time we had their big entrance in 1987. i lived near an area of power lines growing up so i always thought the sound was from the lines but i later found out it was the bugs! i'd occasionally hear the noise every year but it never got as loud as that year. sort of haunting when they would start up and then stop after a time.

 

[journey11]

I was digging in my composted manure pile the other day and found a couple cicada larvae. They looked like they were getting close to time to hatch.

 

[baymule]

I heard some this evening. I love the cicadas. I love the noise they make, it reminds me of playing outside in the evenings when I was a kid. To me, it is a soothing, peaceful sound. I know some people don't like them, but I do. I pick the larva casings after the cicadas emerge and toss them in the chicken coop. They love them. Sometimes a cicada will emerge in the coop (dirt floor). The first time that happened, the girls tried to run away from it. It only wanted OUT and it buzzed and dive bombed the girls, bounced off the hardware cloth and made a lot of noise. The girls were terrified. It was funny to watch the hens screaming EEEEKK! GAWK! and the cicada BUUUZZZZ then WHAP! as it crashed into a wall. They eventually ate it in typical hen manner, one got brave, then they all wanted it.

 

[vfem]

Haven't heard them yet, but this is the big year for them here. Not looking forward at all!

I bet they'll be around by next week.

What I am worried about now is how to protect my fruit trees?!?!!?