Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Here Come the Magic Cicadas Again

MagicicadaThrough the magic of the social networks (thanks, Xris and Erin), I’ve learned that there will be a nearby emergence of 17-year cicadas this year. Brood V of Magicicada genus cicadas will be emerging on Long Island, as well as into Ohio and Virginia, this spring. Brooklyn may be on the western end of Long Island, but we don’t get these periodic, as opposed to annual, cicadas in our massively disturbed terrain. The Cicadamania link above recommends a park near Riverhead, NY, as a good location to enjoy the critters.

Pictured here are an adult Magicicada on the left and the husk of the underground larval stage on the right. 17 years of underground living!

I wrote about the 2013 emergence of Brood II in Staten Island and points north in all its glorious crunchy cacophony numerous times because it was so much fun:
here
here
here
&
here

June was the peak month in ’13. Sounds like road trip this June will be necessary…

mthew

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2 responses to “Here Come the Magic Cicadas Again”

  1. Donna Evans

    Thanks for the info!! When my phone died, I lost all of my photos of Staten Island 2013 emergence- one of the fantastic experiences of life on Earth.

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Yes it was! Aural, visual, tactile, and the once every 17 year sight of a Mississippi Kite eating them out of the air.

      Reply

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