Big Bugs

[wbraswell]

You folks who are in the Central Southern U.S. probably are well acquainted with these fellas, but I want to know who among us does NOT know what these are and tell us what part of the country you are from. Cousins from California had no idea what they were.

 

[Doug627]

They are cicadas.

 

[Onomea]

Gitcher recipes rat cheer: http://umaa.umd.edu/E-Newsletter/docs/cicadarecipes.PDF

 

[5-Shot]

Many years ago I was walking around town in the university area of Memphos when I met two young men strolling about. They were visiting the university from somewhere in the far west. One of the asked nervously, "What's that noise?" Being a southerner, thus completely used to the cicada's song, it took me a while to figure out what they were talking about. For you outsiders, image tinnitus turned up to rock concert volume and you'll be close.

Ed

 

[bigwheelzip]

My cat used to feast on those Cicadas up in NY.

Came across this weird thing in Lynchburg, Virginia. For about a week, a swarm of several hundred would meet me at dawn every morning, at the door to a construction trailer field office. They covered the outside wall, around the light sconce.

Walking into the trailer felt like a scene from Hitchcock's "The Birds".

 

[mojave30cal]

That big insect in your hand is called a "B-52".

 

[BearBio]

I'm from Cali and know what cicadas are. We had several species there. Some years, their buzzing would startle the heck out of us while quail hunting (They sound a lot like a rattler!)

 

[OFT II]

Cicadas are great for fly fishing. Just put them on a small hook with no weight and let them sit on top of the water flapping their wings.

 

[Rule3]

But! What variety (species) of over 190+/- or so in North America?

 

[da gimp]

Zip, I've never seen that bug of yours before. We have the common varieties of locusts/cicadas here in Missouri...but the one pictured is entirely new to me.

 

[Rustyt1953]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YfEVAABIpAQ[/ame]

 

[the ringo kid]

You folks who are in the Central Southern U.S. probably are well acquainted with these fellas, but I want to know who among us does NOT know what these are and tell us what part of the country you are from. Cousins from California had no idea what they were.

Though ive nothing against those bugs, all I can think of for them, is a bit of ultimate pest control:

And:

Uh oh:

 

[JayFramer]

Last year the 17 year or 21 year (I forget) cicada posse came out of the ground. They were EVERYWHERE, some places the ground was so full of cicada corpses you couldn't walk a foot without stepping on one. They'll buzz ya too, freaks me out. They use a straw like appendage to drink tree sap, that sometimes they'll stick into your skin if you let them sit on you for a while. Painful. I hate them dearly, but apparently some like to use them as food.

 

[wbraswell]

My cousin from California, was visiting here some years back, in early August. We walked outside and they began to sing. He said "What in the world is that noise." His kids were fascinated by them, and took several shells home with them. I saw online saying that copperheads like to eat them, but I've never seen a snake under my oak trees during the season. They don't bother me in the least. I think ours are 7 year, but they come out every year.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

We know what they are in Dixie, but ever since I was a kid I've heard them called "July Flies." Don't know why, unless they first start singing about July.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Bigwhelelzip,
That big bug of yours is a Dobson Fly, the larval form of which is know as a Hellgramite. The larva are aquatic and are very good bass bait. At some point they crawl up onto land and find a hiding place to morph into the adult winged insect version. See more about them here: eastern dobsonfly - Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus)

John

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

You folks who are in the Central Southern U.S. probably are well acquainted with these fellas, but I want to know who among us does NOT know what these are and tell us what part of the country you are from. Cousins from California had no idea what they were.

Lots of city folk I've met didn't know what they were. But it's no surprise to me. Back in college I had a room mate from south Philly who had never seen a squirrel until he met up with the campus tree rats.

But the one case of insect ignorance that stands out best in my mind is the couple from Utah who moved in next to us years ago. They had a daughter that was our kids age and we soon became good friends. One mid June evening the mother came over to see my wife, concerned about the little lights flickering out in the back yard. My wife looked out the window and laughed. The yard was full of Fireflies, lightening bugs if you will. Our neighbors had never seen or heard of them. Wife gave all the kids mason jars and sent them out to do what youngsters are wont to do on a fine summer evening when the fireflies are dancing. It was a fun night.

John

 

[dave holl]

Bigwhelelzip,
That big bug of yours is a Dobson Fly, the larval form of which is know as a Hellgramite. The larva are aquatic and are very good bass bait. At some point they crawl up onto land and find a hiding place to morph into the adult winged insect version. See more about them here: eastern dobsonfly - Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus)

John

I've seined lots of those in the Olentangy River back when stream temps were cool. You're correct, smallmouth bass love 'em. Hellgramites are very expensive at a bait store, but we could get 20 or so from the river. Thanks for your post.................brought back some good memories.
Dave

 

[bigwheelzip]

Bigwhelelzip,
That big bug of yours is a Dobson Fly .....

I only found that out today. All those years ago, before the internet was around for help, the gang in the trailer nicknamed them "The Bugs From Hell". Our group was from all over the country, but nobody had seen one before.
They made my skin crawl, and I was delighted when one morning, they were gone for good.

 

[blues7]

Lots of city folk I've met didn't know what they were. But it's no surprise to me. Back in college I had a room mate from south Philly who had never seen a squirrel until he met up with the campus tree rats.

John

I grew up in NYC, (Brooklyn and Queens), and cicadas, squirrels, praying mantises and tadpoles (among other critters) were all part of the routine. I guess it just depends on where the city is located.

Down here where I'm living presently if I don't hear the cicadas I start wondering what's afoot.