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Old 08-10-2010, 10:51 PM
 
Location: SoCal
14,530 posts, read 19,975,586 times
Reputation: 10539

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They're big and black and look like bumble bees but they aren't, and if I sense it right they may have an iridescent green or emerald cast to their wings (or body).

What are they? Are they some kind of 12 or 14 year cycle?

I've lived here for decades and I believe I've seen them before, but never in such numbers!

 
Old 08-10-2010, 10:53 PM
 
Location: South St Louis
4,356 posts, read 4,517,882 times
Reputation: 3139
Sounds like maybe cicadas. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada
 
Old 08-10-2010, 11:00 PM
 
Location: SoCal
14,530 posts, read 19,975,586 times
Reputation: 10539
Ouch!!!

Quote:
Cicadas have a long proboscis under their head that they use for feeding on tree sap, and if they attempt to inject it into a person's body it can be painful, but is in no other way harmful. This sting is not a defensive reaction and should not be mistaken for aggression, it is extremely uncommon, and it usually only happens when they are allowed to rest on a person's body for extended periods of time.
Might be. Is anybody else noticing huge numbers of these insects, far more than in usual years?

They resemble bumble bees but they aren't.

(Thank you!)
 
Old 08-10-2010, 11:08 PM
 
Location: South St Louis
4,356 posts, read 4,517,882 times
Reputation: 3139
On second thought, you're in California; I'm not sure cicadas can be found that far west. Perhaps you've got carpenter bees, which are definitely found on the west coast. Genus Xylocopa - Large Carpenter Bees - BugGuide.Net
 
Old 08-11-2010, 12:14 AM
 
Location: West Hollywood
245 posts, read 709,302 times
Reputation: 193
Default g

If I'm thinking what you're thinking I think they're June bugs. They're big flying shiny green beetle thingies that makes this loud humming noise when it flies. I heard some people catches them and ties a string to them so they can fly it like a kite. I on the other hand run away from them cuz the size and noise it makes scares me =(
 
Old 08-11-2010, 12:20 AM
 
Location: Declezville, CA
16,806 posts, read 39,752,846 times
Reputation: 17678
Quote:
Originally Posted by FrostyThe2nd View Post
If I'm thinking what you're thinking I think they're June bugs.
We have a winner. Carol Merrill, show him what he won.
 
Old 08-11-2010, 09:04 AM
 
2,222 posts, read 10,617,550 times
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Carpenter bees.
 
Old 08-11-2010, 09:12 AM
 
5,024 posts, read 8,862,952 times
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When I lived in Sunland/Tujunga in the 80's, they were everywhere. Never saw them before and lived my whole life to that point in California.
 
Old 08-11-2010, 09:17 AM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,301,329 times
Reputation: 29336
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lovehound View Post
They're big and black and look like bumble bees but they aren't, and if I sense it right they may have an iridescent green or emerald cast to their wings (or body).

What are they? Are they some kind of 12 or 14 year cycle?

I've lived here for decades and I believe I've seen them before, but never in such numbers!
Miniature spy drones released by Washington to keep check on the population!
 
Old 08-11-2010, 09:59 AM
 
4,803 posts, read 10,129,160 times
Reputation: 2785
I think I've seen the type of bug your talking about here in San Diego.
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