Cicadas in NY?

April 25, 2004 7:46 PM

The cicada invasion , will it reach new york ?
posted by sgt.serenity to Science & Nature (13 answers total)

nope. we don't get those bugs--we have our own.
posted by amberglow at 7:47 PM on April 25, 2004

Response by poster: Im wondering if anyone knows about the cicadas and whether or not they will appear in new york.
I know new york doesnt have that many trees or anything but im a bit concerned as i'm not very keen on insects and i would hope to be able to avoid them entirely.
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:48 PM on April 25, 2004

We don't get them--seriously. I don't think they bother with any cities--there's nothing for them to eat.
posted by amberglow at 7:59 PM on April 25, 2004

I did read they show up in Central Park. No one knows when they will arrive but you will know it when you hear it. Sometime in May. Bon Appetit.
posted by stbalbach at 8:21 PM on April 25, 2004

Whatever you do, sarge, don't be tempted, as they're all the rage now.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 8:33 PM on April 25, 2004

While cicadas do live in the new york suburbs, I was completely unaware of the previous 2 infestations while I lived in Connecticut, so I'm guessing that either it wasn't a big deal that far north, or all the bugs were hiding from me.

I'm told that it was an issue as far inland as Cincinnati ohio the last time, though.
posted by crunchland at 8:35 PM on April 25, 2004

really? 1010wins doesn't mention that they hit the city at all.
posted by amberglow at 8:37 PM on April 25, 2004

Not this year, anyway.
posted by rafter at 9:17 PM on April 25, 2004

A few years ago, when I lived in NYC, I had my first encounter with a cicada. It got lodged between two window panes somehow, scared the crap out of me when I opened the window shade in the morning, and made the most awful noise I've ever heard when we tried to get him out of there. But other than that one time, I've never seen them in the city.
posted by PaperDragon at 10:18 AM on April 26, 2004

what do they sound like? crickets?
posted by amberglow at 2:32 PM on April 26, 2004

They aren't dangerous right, just annoying? I grew up in AZ and NM where they're just a fact of life. Never heard of any cicada-related injuries, but maybe I'm just blissfully ignorant.

And nothing beats the look of surprise on a cat's face once he's caught his first cicada. Hilarious!

on preview: amberglow, they buzz loudly. You can hear a treeful of them for a mile, I bet.
posted by whatnot at 2:37 PM on April 26, 2004

The sound is more continuous than crickets. It's almost like an electrical wire humming, with a very sharp edge to it. They get going in groups and it's a more or less continuous drone.
posted by scarabic at 3:01 PM on April 26, 2004

Ooh, whatnot: another mefite who lives in Austin and is from NM! Cool! We should have a meet-up.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 3:02 PM on April 26, 2004