Cicada invasion

[HawkinsHollow]

SE Tennessee they have been going pretty good for the last 2 weeks, they are all over our yard. We have both broods here, you can tell by the sound.

 

[Oaktree]

Interesting to hear this. We've not really been affected by them/haven't heard them.

We're too far north for them. In fact, until about 20 years ago I'd never even heard of them. Someone I knew who was originally from the south was mentioning them, had no idea what he was talking about.

 

[FPGT72]

They are full force in STL. Going outside you almost need ear protection.

I’ve seen thousands of shells under some trees and none under other trees. I’ve seen few live bugs - just thousands of brown shells.

I’ve been told they will be gone in early June.

That is nutz, I live in the "greater Kansas City" area and at my house I have not seen hide nor hair of them. I am a bit out in the boonies but nothing. The June bugs are starting to show up however.

 

[kenmbz]

I think I saw 3 cicada killer wasps and one cicada.
Last year not many cicadas either, but lots of the wasps from the previous years cicadas, which still weren't that many.

Those cigars with stingers look menacing, but never seem to bother us, just don't step on their nest holes.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I think I saw 3 cicada killer wasps and one cicada.
Last year not many cicadas either, but lots of the wasps from the previous years cicadas, which still weren't that many.

Those cigars with stingers look menacing, but never seem to bother us, just don't step on their nest holes.

Had to look those up; no thank you.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

That is nutz, I live in the "greater Kansas City" area and at my house I have not seen hide nor hair of them. I am a bit out in the boonies but nothing. The June bugs are starting to show up however.

They are not everywhere. There are maps all over the internet with their historic range, it is only 30% or less of the US. Mostly Midwest, mid atlantic and mid south. You only have a 17 year brood out by you and they hatched last in 2015.

 

[FPGT72]

They are not everywhere. There are maps all over the internet with their historic range, it is only 30% or less of the US. Mostly Midwest, mid atlantic and mid south. You only have a 17 year brood out by you and they hatched last in 2015.

I really have not looked into it, but that sounds right. I do remember they have been quite loud in years past, but this year nothing and with all the coverage I figured I would hear somehting. I just never bothered to look and see why.

thanks.

 

[JamesHW]

In the Mid-Atlantic we had a large swarm emerge in 2021, nothing unusual other than the critters everywhere and the sound, no big. Then the oak leaf itch mites (Pyemotes herfsi) started emerging and feeding on the carcasses of the cicadas and suddenly they were everywhere, except you couldn’t see them and they were so small they floated on gentle breezes for miles. So sitting on your porch they would land on your exposed skin and eventually bite you causing an antihistamine reaction that resulted in painful raised welts that itched like crazy. Once we figured out what was happening (it took the mites 4 hours before they would bite) we would carefully wash any exposed skin when we came in and carried wet rags to wipe them off our skin while working outside. It was a miserable summer that year.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

In the Mid-Atlantic we had a large swarm emerge in 2021, nothing unusual other than the critters everywhere and the sound, no big. Then the oak leaf itch mites (Pyemotes herfsi) started emerging and feeding on the carcasses of the cicadas and suddenly they were everywhere, except you couldn’t see them and they were so small they floated on gentle breezes for miles. So sitting on your porch they would land on your exposed skin and eventually bite you causing an antihistamine reaction that resulted in painful raised welts that itched like crazy. Once we figured out what was happening (it took the mites 4 hours before they would bite) we would carefully wash any exposed skin when we came in and carried wet rags to wipe them off our skin while working outside. It was a miserable summer that year.

Please tell me you are kidding. But I have a feeling you are not.
I hope that is not the case here, I have just started an 850 sqft addition on the house and will be outside ALL summer. At least I know, and knowing is half the battle. I am off to do a little more research on this topic.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had never heard of then until 5 minutes ago.

Oak mites feed on larvae of a midge (fly), which forms galls on the edges of pin oak leaves. Specialists also think that oak leaf itch mites feed on cicada eggs. It could be the explanation behind an increase in the cases of mite bites to humans.

What to Know About Oak Leaf Itch Mites