Biggest damn cicada I've ever seen! Any weird bugs of summer anyone's encountered this year?
Big Boy Cicada
- Thread starter Green Hill Hermit
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everyone from the south with fresh water nearby knows this aggressive little monster
I'm no entomologist (insect expert), but I think size is species specific, and this great big bug looks similar in size to a big cicada season I experienced in the late 1950's or early 1960's in Illinois. It may not be the exact species, but the size is similar. They were everywhere, made a huge racket, and died off in hoards, and had to be raked.
I've noticed there seem to be a few that hatch out intermittently over the years, and I usually see a few each year most places I have lived, like currently in central North Carolina. Then there are the big hatch-outs when millions crawl out of the ground at once, the 7 year and 17 year batches.
Once or twice, I've been warned of the coming of a big cicada hatch, and it hasn't happened. I'm not sure how that uncertainty works, but it happens. Big warning, few if any bugs.
The other major insect hatch out I have experienced was mayflies in Michigan, zillions in the air all at once, but blessedly for campers, they all go to bed about eight p.m. and are quiet until after dawn. They collect in bunches like tumble weed once they have bred and deposited their eggs, and died. Lots of mid-air mating going on, and sometimes they dodge into a camper's tent to enjoy themselves.
I've noticed there seem to be a few that hatch out intermittently over the years, and I usually see a few each year most places I have lived, like currently in central North Carolina. Then there are the big hatch-outs when millions crawl out of the ground at once, the 7 year and 17 year batches.
Once or twice, I've been warned of the coming of a big cicada hatch, and it hasn't happened. I'm not sure how that uncertainty works, but it happens. Big warning, few if any bugs.
The other major insect hatch out I have experienced was mayflies in Michigan, zillions in the air all at once, but blessedly for campers, they all go to bed about eight p.m. and are quiet until after dawn. They collect in bunches like tumble weed once they have bred and deposited their eggs, and died. Lots of mid-air mating going on, and sometimes they dodge into a camper's tent to enjoy themselves.
With the 'Great Reset' coming you are now looking at your replacement for a good burger! 
Gross.With the 'Great Reset' coming you are now looking at your replacement for a good burger!
Saw this guy at work yesterday!
Pretty little loudmouth. Loud wing just doesn’t sound right. Also not so little.
Pretty little loudmouth. Loud wing just doesn’t sound right. Also not so little.
We've had a very small brood this summer. The big 17 year brood emerged a couple years ago - they were everywhere.
Here's a trio of Magicicada Septendecim from then, 2021.
Here's a trio of Magicicada Septendecim from then, 2021.
I was in Chicago when Brood XIII cicadas emerged in 1990. It was crazy. They were everywhere and thick on the ground. You couldn't walk anywhere without them hitting you mid-flight and you crunching them underfoot. And this was in the City, not the woods. Whatever ate them would have gotten FAT that summer.
Brood XIII would have emerged again 17 years later in 2007 and is expected in 2024.
Brood XIII would have emerged again 17 years later in 2007 and is expected in 2024.
Great for fly fishing on certain rivers. We wait in great anticipation to throw big bugs to hungry fish.