Southern Marylanders - Help me locate the 'cicada invasion' (Frederick: house, live) - (MD) - City-Data Forum

uggabugga · 05-21-2013, 08:10 AM

i've been reading a lot about the billions of cicadas that are supposedly inundating the east coast, but apparently central MD where i live is outside the area where the current 17-year cycle brood II is located.

so yesterday i drove nearly all the way to leonardtown on MD 4, passing thru calvert and st. marys counties, thinking i would surely run into some, based on this map:

but i couldn't find any. on the way back after it got dark, i could hear one here and there making noise, but no concentrated area like i was expecting to find.

can anyone tell me where to find a concentrated patch of them?

DaveinMtAiry · 05-22-2013, 06:01 AM

I think it may be too early. Where do you live and is Mount Airy out of the zone too? That's a bummer.

molukai · 05-22-2013, 09:32 AM

Just curious, but why are you looking for a large group of them? Are you planning on harvesting them for cicada cuisine?

tercel95 · 05-22-2013, 09:53 AM

Talking to my co-workers some of them have seen swarms and others have seen none. It really depends on where you are. Most reports I have heard were in southern Calvert County. You aren't going to see them driving up and down route 4 though.

uggabugga · 05-22-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry

I think it may be too early. Where do you live and is Mount Airy out of the zone too? That's a bummer.

i don't think it's too early; reports are that they're already out in VA and southern MD, and have been for a few days. everything shaded in the map below is from this year's sightings. i live between bowie and annapolis, and mt. airy is too far north.

Quote:

Originally Posted by molukai

Just curious, but why are you looking for a large group of them? Are you planning on harvesting them for cicada cuisine?

mmmm, maybe

i mostly just want to see what thousands of them look like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tercel95

Talking to my co-workers some of them have seen swarms and others have seen none. It really depends on where you are. Most reports I have heard were in southern Calvert County. You aren't going to see them driving up and down route 4 though.

apparently not. i did wander off 4 for a bit around st. leonard and calvert beach, but still no luck.

do any of your co-workers know an address like a park or something where they've seen them?

westsideboy · 05-22-2013, 10:52 AM

General rule: Any land that has been developed in the last 17 years won't have many cicadas. The heavy moving equipment and removal of trees kills the juveniles.

I don't know Southern Maryland very well, but in general I think your best bet would be to go to state parks that have large stands of broadleaf trees.

tercel95 · 05-23-2013, 05:30 AM

Your best bet might be Flag Ponds Nature park or Calvert Cliffs State park. I ride my mountain bike regularly at Greenwell State Park in St. Mary's and have seen a few shells but nothing significant. They seem to be particularly quiet this year too. I keep hoping one doesn't hit me in the face while I am riding.

Also, not sure if you knew this but they are disgusting looking. If they ever swarm my house you can have them.

DaveinMtAiry · 05-23-2013, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uggabugga

i don't think it's too early; reports are that they're already out in VA and southern MD, and have been for a few days. everything shaded in the map below is from this year's sightings. i live between bowie and annapolis, and mt. airy is too far north.

Thanks for the bad news. But I don't get it. They are turning up in New Jersey, why would Mount Airy be too far north? And we are surrounded by 100 year old trees, no development here since the 1800's.

As for why I'm so interested that's simple: they are an amazing phenomenon. I remember as a kid growing up in Montgomery County just how incredible they were. They are harmless and I wanted to use them as fishing bait last time but never got around to it.

Some people eat them, call 'em "land shrimp". I'll pass although I wanted my dog to eat them, it's good for them (free protein).

westsideboy · 05-23-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry

Thanks for the bad news. But I don't get it. They are turning up in New Jersey, why would Mount Airy be too far north? And we are surrounded by 100 year old trees, no development here since the 1800's.

As for why I'm so interested that's simple: they are an amazing phenomenon. I remember as a kid growing up in Montgomery County just how incredible they were. They are harmless and I wanted to use them as fishing bait last time but never got around to it.

Some people eat them, call 'em "land shrimp". I'll pass although I wanted my dog to eat them, it's good for them (free protein).

Frederick County has cicadas, but they are part of Brood X, not Brood II. They came out last in 2004, and should be seen again in 2021.

DaveinMtAiry · 05-23-2013, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Frederick County has cicadas, but they are part of Brood X, not Brood II. They came out last in 2004, and should be seen again in 2021.

Yes we had them too but they were a disappointment. I went through Chevy Chase and they were everywhere. I'm so bummed, this is about the only thing I think is better in Montgomery County than up here.