Skip to comments.
Washington braces for frenzy of mating and death (NOT about the Kennedys)
Sydney Morning Herald ^
| May 13, 2004
| Alec Russell
Posted on 05/12/2004 7:43:23 AM PDT by dead
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61 next last
To: dead
out of holes in the ground where they have been waiting since the height of Ronald Reagan's presidency. I knew it was a Republican's fault!
21
posted on
05/12/2004 8:02:31 AM PDT
by
Izzy Dunne
(Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
To: William Terrell
All these trillions of insects will have to eat something. What do they eat? as far as anyone can tell -- nothing while above ground. They've spent the last just-under 17 years burrowing in the ground, eating who knows what under there. Above ground, though, they just are looking for a one-night stand, after which they drop dead.
We've been advised to protect young (leaf-bearing) trees, because the cicadas cut small slits in the branches and lay their eggs inside; this can harm or kill the young trees. However, they will leave flowers, vegetable plants, herbs, etc., alone.
22
posted on
05/12/2004 8:03:33 AM PDT
by
kevkrom
(The John Kerry Songbook: www.imakrom.com/kerrysongs)
To: 2banana
What is a few billion more?Ummm. Its a lot more "plague-like" than youre envisioning at the moment. Theyre everwhere, like media bias.
To: kevkrom
However, they will leave flowers, vegetable plants, herbs, etc., alone.Also, they like maples and deciduous trees, but have nothing to do with evergreens. If youve got a lot of maples (like us), you're in for a treat. Real fun.
To: All
25
posted on
05/12/2004 8:06:02 AM PDT
by
kevkrom
(The John Kerry Songbook: www.imakrom.com/kerrysongs)
To: Nonstatist
I'm just worried about the cherry blossom we planted last year. We've put some netting on it, but I'm not sure it will be enough.
26
posted on
05/12/2004 8:06:54 AM PDT
by
kevkrom
(The John Kerry Songbook: www.imakrom.com/kerrysongs)
To: TBall
Cicada Cuisine Hmmm, I recall the bluejays eating them with great gusto and no preparation time. The darn things are loud and their volume really goes up in a sort of 'death scream' when caught by a jaybird.
To: kevkrom
We get them every year in the South too, but not like this. I think this is going to be a doozy.
We live amongst the forests of N. Georgia. Here's what we woke up to yesterday. The day before was normal, now we have a constant whiny buzzing in the background.
Cicadas in the background
28
posted on
05/12/2004 8:07:35 AM PDT
by
kenth
To: kevkrom
Last time this particular brood came out, it was 1987. There were so many covering my town (Lousiville KY) that the streets were covered in squished-cicada paste. An enterprising t-shirt maker sold thousands of t-shirts with a design of a cicada emerging Rambo-like from some bushes (complete with AK-47 and red headband). You're right, this is nothing like the ordinary cicada crop.
29
posted on
05/12/2004 8:08:49 AM PDT
by
egarvue
(Martin Sheen is not my president...)
To: TBall
Cicada Cuisine Cicadas -- the other white meat.
30
posted on
05/12/2004 8:08:57 AM PDT
by
kevkrom
(The John Kerry Songbook: www.imakrom.com/kerrysongs)
To: dead
We're getting these guys up in Cincinnati, where they predict about 5,000,000,000 of the guys in one county alone.
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!
31
posted on
05/12/2004 8:09:03 AM PDT
by
Saturnalia
(My name is Matt Foley and I live in a VAN down by the RIVER.)
To: William Terrell
What do they eat?
Actually periodical cicadas only eat in their Nymph stage. While underground they suck nutrients from the roots of perenial shrubs and trees. Once the emerge as adults, their only goal is to mate and die.
To: dead
33
posted on
05/12/2004 8:09:45 AM PDT
by
Polybius
To: kevkrom
Above ground, though, they just are looking for a one-night stand, after which they drop dead. Playboy should do a interview. . .
34
posted on
05/12/2004 8:09:51 AM PDT
by
William Terrell
(Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
To: dead
cicadas can reach densities of up to 3000 kilograms a hectare. 3000 kG = 6600 pounds = 105600 ounces
1 hectare = 10 000 square meters
That's 10 OUNCES OF BUGS in one SQUARE YARD!
Don't know how many bugs per ounce, but that seems like a lot of bugs.
35
posted on
05/12/2004 8:10:11 AM PDT
by
Izzy Dunne
(Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
To: William Terrell
Playboy should do a interview. . . It does sound like the perfect singles-bar scenario, doesn't it?
36
posted on
05/12/2004 8:11:09 AM PDT
by
kevkrom
(The John Kerry Songbook: www.imakrom.com/kerrysongs)
To: dead
Washington?
Come to the Greater Cincinnati Tri State area in the next five days. Between 6 and 10 BILLION cicada's from Brood X will be emerging.
Last time around, while I was in high school here, every step resulted in a "crunching sound" for weeks. The noise is comparable to a Boeing 747 taking off. Outdoor dining?
Get a grip!.....LOL!
Washington's "problem" with cicada's is dwarfed by whats about to happen with them here.
37
posted on
05/12/2004 8:13:12 AM PDT
by
Badeye
To: dead
they have been waiting since the height of Ronald Reagan's presidency. Hmmmm.
2004 - Bush = REPUBLICAN.
1987 - Reagan = REPUBLICAN.
1970 - Nixon = REPUBLICAN.
1953 - Eisenhower = REPUBLICAN.
I think there's a trend here...
38
posted on
05/12/2004 8:14:13 AM PDT
by
Izzy Dunne
(Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
To: kevkrom
We were in Baltimore in 1970 and 87 for this invasion and are going back to see it next week. It is indeed a happening. You measure your life by it. The first time we didn't even know our youngest child, the second time she was afraid of them, now she is 28 and is all interested. It is so interesting to think that for the next invasion, I may just be under there with the little buggers. It gives you a sense of how quickly your life passes and is a milestone. I love it. but they are damned loud.
39
posted on
05/12/2004 8:14:32 AM PDT
by
cajungirl
(<i>swing low, sweet limousine, comin' fer to Kerry me hoooommmee</i>)
To: 2banana
You get a far different variety, in the late summer. This isn't remotely close to that.
Thankfully, its only once every 17 years. Every 220 or so, Brood X and another "Brood" emerge at the same time...with a result approaching 20 Billion released here in Cincy.
40
posted on
05/12/2004 8:14:52 AM PDT
by
Badeye
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson