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Had never experienced something like these cicadas 17 years ago. Epic, biblical. Have been waiting ever since. Last few days I've seen a few here and there, but

Had never experienced something like these cicadas 17 years ago. Epic, biblical. Have been waiting ever since. Last few days I've seen a few here and there, but nothing in comparison to what I was expecting. Will this take some time to ramp up?

oh_sigh 5y ago
I think it really depends on where you are. Even within their range, in some places they've been wiped out from pesticides, or tree removals, or got their signals mixed up and emerged early/will emerge late. I can say that I was in Silver Spring, MD for Brood X in the spring of 2004, and for a few days you couldn't take a step without squishing 20 cicadas. Trees looked like you had dropped acid because they were literally covered >50% of their surface area in wiggling cicadas. I started carrying an umbrella because I would be picking them of of myself for a half hour from the mere 20' walk from my car to my front door.
- dmitryminkovsky 5y ago
  > I can say that I was in Silver Spring, MD for Brood X in the spring of 2004, and for a few days you couldn't take a step without squishing 20 cicadas. Trees looked like you had dropped acid because they were literally covered >50% of their surface area in wiggling cicadas. I started carrying an umbrella because I would be picking them of of myself for a half hour from the mere 20' walk from my car to my front door. This is how I remember it...
jccalhoun 5y ago
yes. it hasn't really started yet. I've seen some sightings locally on reddit but nothing here yet. You will know it when they are here.
superbatfish 5y ago
Yes, it will take time. In my yard here in Reston, VA, they’ve been emerging in small but increasing numbers each night for the past seven days. I was just outside a few minutes ago — it looks like like tonight will be a big night for them! That said, it also depends on where you are. They can only grow in soil that remained mostly unmolested (no construction) for 17 years. Recently constructed neighborhoods will not have many cicadas. Also, they feed on tree roots, so areas with few trees will have few cicadas.

oh_sigh 5y ago

I think it really depends on where you are. Even within their range, in some places they've been wiped out from pesticides, or tree removals, or got their signals mixed up and emerged early/will emerge late. I can say that I was in Silver Spring, MD for Brood X in the spring of 2004, and for a few days you couldn't take a step without squishing 20 cicadas. Trees looked like you had dropped acid because they were literally covered >50% of their surface area in wiggling cicadas. I started carrying an umbrella because I would be picking them of of myself for a half hour from the mere 20' walk from my car to my front door.

dmitryminkovsky 5y ago
> I can say that I was in Silver Spring, MD for Brood X in the spring of 2004, and for a few days you couldn't take a step without squishing 20 cicadas. Trees looked like you had dropped acid because they were literally covered >50% of their surface area in wiggling cicadas. I started carrying an umbrella because I would be picking them of of myself for a half hour from the mere 20' walk from my car to my front door. This is how I remember it...

jccalhoun 5y ago

yes. it hasn't really started yet. I've seen some sightings locally on reddit but nothing here yet. You will know it when they are here.

superbatfish 5y ago

Yes, it will take time. In my yard here in Reston, VA, they’ve been emerging in small but increasing numbers each night for the past seven days. I was just outside a few minutes ago — it looks like like tonight will be a big night for them! That said, it also depends on where you are. They can only grow in soil that remained mostly unmolested (no construction) for 17 years. Recently constructed neighborhoods will not have many cicadas. Also, they feed on tree roots, so areas with few trees will have few cicadas.