Year of the locust

Not sure how it is where you are but here the locusts have been coming out in full force over the last 3 days. Lark has been busy trying to eat as many as she can before they mature enough to fly away. I'm just waiting to come in to find a pile of locust barf. If the real 17 year cycle is supposed to be 4 years from now, maybe I should find another place to live before then! Here are 2 photos from this morning on our fence:

Empty shells and newly emerged locusts:

Attachment 6235

Emerging nymph, or whatever you call them at this stage:

Attachment 6234

This is the first year I remember ever seeing so many exoskeletons and live ones so early. Normally, we won't be seeing live ones till about June/July....just a few shells and already-dead (natural causes or stepped on) ones before then.

The dogs love them (though it took Dan a couple of years of watching Sunnie and then not reacting in disgust when given something that wriggled around in his mouth). Sunnie is a quick chomper while Danny holds them down with a paw and eats them bit by bit.

Our walk this morning was "Eating our way around Wilde Lake". I'd brought one home from my walk for Dan (his turn...we alternate) and so both dogs were in high predator mode as soon as their paws touched the ground. Funny how goose poop and gravel (???) can look like cicadas when that's what you're focused on. I make the dogs wait till I ascertain that the bugs are alive and then hand them over...sometimes it's obvious and I let the one who's due for the treat just scoop it up him/herself. They're not allowed to eat dead ones...who knows how long they've been dead or if there are ants already inside.

Yeah....I think this is going to be a banner year for all kinds of creepy crawlies in addition to these noisy flyers.

I read that they would be coming earlier than usual this year, but can't remember where i read that or what scientists thought the reason was...

I believe you are dealing with cicadas not locusts.

Irishwhistler

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IRISHWISTLER

I believe you are dealing with cicadas not locusts.

Irishwhistler

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undoubtedly correct

When is a locust not a locust? When the locust is a cicada. - Cicada Mania