Cicada 17 year invasion

[MagikSmallie]

what needs to be understood is that cicada's hatch every year the reason they are called 17 year is becuase it takes 17 years for them to transform from a grub into the actual cicada, some years are heavier than others, but they don't just come out every 17 years they come very year.

[RoadToad]

what needs to be understood is that cicada's hatch every year the reason they are called 17 year is becuase it takes 17 years for them to transform from a grub into the actual cicada, some years are heavier than others, but they don't just come out every 17 years they come very year.

It is true that there are "annual" cicadas that come out every year, but 17-year cicadas do in fact live underground for 17 years, only emerging once in their lifetime. There are 13-year cicadas, too. Do a Google search and you'll find all kinds of articles about them. This one has good pics:
http://www.pbase.com/knight_errant/cicada_central

[LarryG]

I have lived at my present locatio over 15 yrs. This year the noise is loud and constant. Its not unusual to see six or seven at a time flying around. yes there are locusts every year, but this is the most i have ever seen or heard, and I've got a few yrs on me.

[DJD]

Spent an hour at Raven Run yesterday in Fayette County hiking the SHADED trails. The singing of these bugs was LOUD! It actually gave me a headache and when we left we all had the feeling as if we had been listening to loud music. So if you want to see a bunch of them and hear them this is the place because there are thousands everywhere.