This year the 17-year cicadas emerged from the ground in the areas of Virginia, Maryland and DC. After 17 years, the insects are now finally mature and ready for their short new life. All information for this blog was researched from online sources.
It is interesting to note that masses of cicadas know the exact time and year to come to the surface. The temperature also needs to be at 64 degrees Farengheight before they appear.
Brood X Cicadas resting on a split-rail fence.
They will also crawl up tree trunks, house foundations or bushes when shedding their exoskeletons.
These insects live almost their entire lives underground in a state called a nymph. Nymphs feed on the fluid of tree roots.
When the spring of their 17th year arrives, the mature cicadas emerge from the ground and shed their nymph exoskeletons. At that point, before their bodies harden, they become easy prey for birds and animals.
Adult male cicadas gather in a chorus center to call for a mate. They make a constant loud-humming noise to attract a female.
After mating, the female lays her eggs. The life cycle is then complete for both the male and female cicadas.
However, in 17 years, the cycle will begin again.
Exoskeleton left behind.
Cicadas have a black thorax and orange-veined wings. They range from about 2.4 to 3.3 cm. in length. They are pretty harmless and generally do not bite.
Eating Cicadas and Beetles?
For those adventurous gourmets, I’ve read online the cicada is edible. They were eaten by Native Americans who roasted them.
I remember my dad tell us kids the story of having to eat beetle soup during World War II since there was no food in his European village.
On checking online I noticed there is a Cockchafer Soup made from cockchafer beetles. Soup made with these beetles apparently is a delicacy both in France in Germany. It was popular up until the 1900’s.
Now a days, with the use of pesticides, it is rare to find enough cockchafer beetles to make soup. Apparently, cockchafer soup tastes very much like crab soup.
I wonder if this is the beetle soup which kept my dad alive?
In closing, the cicada is an insect with a long, long life. We, also, need to learn more about insects and their role in our environments.
If you have ever eaten a cicada, beetle or other insect, please feel free to leave us a comment below.
Update: 8-14-2021 – I’ve been cleaning up all the small tree twigs around my yard. Apparently when the cicada eggs hatch, the worms chew through the small twigs. The twigs eventually fall to the ground.