I can remember my first experience with cicadas back in 2004. I worked for Hamilton County JFS in downtown Cincinnati. After the brood emerged, millions of cicadas emerged from a long hibernation. You could see them on the ground, in the air, on buildings, and on my co-workers. Cincinnati looked like it was hosting a bug convention.
Before moving to Ohio, I had never seen a cicada. Though some people find them cute, I think they look creepy. They are large, have red eyes and wings. So what purpose do they serve? I really don’t know. They probably just fit somewhere in the food chain as an appetizer or dessert since they only show up every 13 or 17 years.
I have seen them caught in spider webs and know that birds and dogs both enjoy eating cicadas. Dogs will gorge themselves on cicadas. Supposedly they enjoy the taste as much as a person would enjoy eating ice cream or pie. Some cultures even consider them a delicacy. They probably taste like chicken.
Out of curiosity, I checked the Internet for cicada recipes. Lo-and-behold! Cicada tacos. Doesn’t sound appetizing to me but if you enjoy a cicada buried in lettuce and tomatoes served in a taco shell, this meal’s for you.
A few days ago, I saw my first cicada of 2016. Still just as ugly as ever. What’s fascinating is listening to the song of the cicadas. While researching cicadas, I found a few interesting facts:
People confuse them with locusts, which closely resemble grasshoppers
Eating cicadas poses no health risk to people or pets. Neither does dish soap but I am not drinking it.
Only male cicadas sing. The ladies respond by flapping their wings. Must be tough since their lifetime can be measured in hours.
If you mow the grass, a cicada might mistake you for a comrade. A lawn mower and cicada sound nothing alike, but then I am not a cicada.
Cicadas drink tree fluids, but don’t eat solid food like cheeseburgers or fish sandwiches.
Cicadas have five eyes. What’s so important that they need five eyes to see?
For anyone who has never experienced a brood, it’s fascinating. Cicadas prove that Mother Nature has a strange sense of humor. Anyone up for some grilled cicadas?
Marc is a grandparent and longtime resident of Clermont County. Visit his author page at http://www.lifewithgrandpa.com and his blog at http://www.wisegrandpa.com.