Hello people,

I read this group as it's the closet thing to a gardening group for
Houston... I am being driven mad by what I think are cicadas.

I live in a little village about 15 miles south of downtown Houston, TX.
It's very green and quiet... apart from the racket these pesky things are
making! I believe it is a cicada, but I would like confirmation of that
please. Also, I would love to know how to get rid of them. I ride my cycle
around our village and our yard seems to be the only yard that has them -
we have lots of trees. The rest of the village is so peaceful. I want that!

Here's some pics;
http://purplelinny.com/miscpics/05061301.jpg
http://purplelinny.com/miscpics/05061302.jpg
http://purplelinny.com/miscpics/05061303.jpg

I crept up on this sucker the other evening. It saw me and immediately
stopped making it's noise, unfortunately, not for long! This is my second
year in Houston (from England) and we had them last year. My husband says
they are here every year. I thought they were a 17 year cyclical species?!

Have looked at websites, tried posting a question to one of them, it
didn't work, so I'm here...

Any help appreciated :-)
TIA.
Lynda

Getting rid of them is very easy -- move back to England!

Yes, they are here every year and you might as well just get used to them
because you are not getting rid of them. They are a part of the Texas
summer!

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Apr2704a.htm

"Lynda LeCompte" wrote in message
news
Hello people... I live in a little village about 15 miles south of
downtown Houston, TX.
It's very green and quiet... apart from the racket these pesky things are
making! I believe it is a cicada, but I would like confirmation of that
please. Also, I would love to know how to get rid of them....This is my
second
year in Houston (from England) and we had them last year. My husband says
they are here every year....

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:00:19 -0500, "Robbin" wrote:

Getting rid of them is very easy -- move back to England!

Lynda, you will note that those of us who have grown up or adapted to
conditions in Texas are not tolerant of even the least hint of
criticism of our situation. And that even includes noises made by our
resident insects. So you have to get used to these noises and even,
at some point, decide these are actually beneficial. In many ways
they simply indicate that things are as they are supposed to be.

You will have reached that level of adaptation when on some cold
winter night you contemplate the lack of those noises, and find
yourself only with the more intrusive sounds of our machinery.

Rusty Mase
Austin, Texas

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:00:19 -0500, Robbin wrote:


Getting rid of them is very easy -- move back to England!

No thank you - 'fraid Texas is stuck with me ;-)

Yes, they are here every year and you might as well just get used to them
because you are not getting rid of them. They are a part of the Texas
summer!

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Apr2704a.htm

Thank you - that was an interesting article that verified exactly what my
husband said - that it *is* an annual thing for Texas. They're a
fascinating species really - just so dang loud!

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:03:46 -0500, Rusty Mase wrote:

Lynda, you will note that those of us who have grown up or adapted to
conditions in Texas are not tolerant of even the least hint of
criticism of our situation.

Well, I'm sorry if I offended. However, they are very much noticeable (by
other native Texan residents also) when, like I said, our yard is the only
yard in the entire neighbourhood that is hosting the cicadas. While
ambling around the neighbourhood, enjoying the peace and quiet and you
start to hear the cicadas distinctive cry, there may as well be a big
fluorescent sign in the sky with an arrow pointing to our house saying,
'Cicadas live here' - hehe.

Oh well, if there's no getting rid of them, then we'll just continue to be
the popular residents that we are. Everyone loves us for our cottonwood
tree too. We have it all :-)

Thanks for the input folks.

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:44:04 -0500, Bourne Identity
wrote:

Be very careful what you pray or ask for. The cicada killer can move
onto your
property and then you'd have to avoid the outdoors altogether.

Yes, I read about those nasty things when I was searching for cicada info.
/shudders

One year we had literally thousands of them
swarming our yard. I don't kill, but my husband spent two seasons with
a tennis
racket eliminating them from the property.

Yowwie. That must have been miserable. We get yellow jackets taking up
residence occasionally, but nothing we can't cope with.

If they drive you that crazy while biking, buy a
pair of noise block headphones.

:-) I'll borrow my husband's ear protectors that he uses when he's making
sawdust out in the shop. He has worn them in bed before... but that was to
block out the noise of the barking dogs! Actually, the noise only bothers
me when I'm sat in my office at home. The cicada pictures that I took are
of a crepe myrtle that is right outside my office window. I guess I'll
just turn the radio volume up!

They leave people alone because we are too heavy to carry off ;o)
I can see how a newcomer would find them obnoxious but perhaps you will
adapt to them.

They put me to sleep lol. Very memerizing sound.


"Lynda LeCompte" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:44:04 -0500, Bourne Identity
wrote:

Be very careful what you pray or ask for. The cicada killer can move
onto your
property and then you'd have to avoid the outdoors altogether.

Yes, I read about those nasty things when I was searching for cicada info.
/shudders

One year we had literally thousands of them
swarming our yard. I don't kill, but my husband spent two seasons with
a tennis
racket eliminating them from the property.

Yowwie. That must have been miserable. We get yellow jackets taking up
residence occasionally, but nothing we can't cope with.

If they drive you that crazy while biking, buy a
pair of noise block headphones.

:-) I'll borrow my husband's ear protectors that he uses when he's making
sawdust out in the shop. He has worn them in bed before... but that was to
block out the noise of the barking dogs! Actually, the noise only bothers
me when I'm sat in my office at home. The cicada pictures that I took are
of a crepe myrtle that is right outside my office window. I guess I'll
just turn the radio volume up!

In article ,
"Lynda LeCompte" wrote:

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:00:19 -0500, Robbin wrote:


Getting rid of them is very easy -- move back to England!

No thank you - 'fraid Texas is stuck with me ;-)

Yes, they are here every year and you might as well just get used to them
because you are not getting rid of them. They are a part of the Texas
summer!

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Apr2704a.htm

Thank you - that was an interesting article that verified exactly what my
husband said - that it *is* an annual thing for Texas. They're a
fascinating species really - just so dang loud!

You will learn to tune them out eventually...
Odd, I never did find them to be irritating but I can understand!

Eventually, the LACK of noise they make will make you more nervous as
it's TOO quiet once you get used to them! lol

They live in my oak trees out back. I've lived in Texas now for about 23
or 24 years now and I really don't notice them much anymore. Their
sheddings are all over the place.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

Hey Lynda,
Out here in Bastrop we have them AND at night we have the Katydids..So we
get noise all day and night..The Katydid makes a very loud sound as well..It
is more of a one second burst than steady as is the cicadas..Apparently they
love to munch on my oak trees. :-(
Like you, we just have to live with it...
John


"Lynda LeCompte" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:44:04 -0500, Bourne Identity
wrote:

Be very careful what you pray or ask for. The cicada killer can move
onto your
property and then you'd have to avoid the outdoors altogether.

Yes, I read about those nasty things when I was searching for cicada info.
/shudders

One year we had literally thousands of them
swarming our yard. I don't kill, but my husband spent two seasons with
a tennis
racket eliminating them from the property.

Yowwie. That must have been miserable. We get yellow jackets taking up
residence occasionally, but nothing we can't cope with.

If they drive you that crazy while biking, buy a
pair of noise block headphones.

:-) I'll borrow my husband's ear protectors that he uses when he's making
sawdust out in the shop. He has worn them in bed before... but that was to
block out the noise of the barking dogs! Actually, the noise only bothers
me when I'm sat in my office at home. The cicada pictures that I took are
of a crepe myrtle that is right outside my office window. I guess I'll
just turn the radio volume up!

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 13:42:37 -0500, John
wrote:

Hey Lynda,
Out here in Bastrop we have them AND at night we have the Katydids..So we
get noise all day and night..The Katydid makes a very loud sound as
well..

Yes, they're a new one for me too (along with a zillion other things of a
slithery and creepy crawly nature ;-). I saw a poster on another forum
with the handle 'katydid' and always thought "Katy did what? What a
strange handle!" lol - Now I know what it is.

I can't hear the cicadas so far today. They started early yesterday
morning. Maybe they picked up my bad vibe and moved on... hang on... I
spoke too soon. There they are!

Thanks for the input folks. I've been following the blackberry thread too.
Just how many crumbles and pies can one make in a season? I've given more
away than I've frozen.

Lynda

I wasn't offended -- jsut making a strong point that it's summer and the
circadas are here!

Welcome to Texas!

Robbin

"Lynda LeCompte" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:03:46 -0500, Rusty Mase wrote:

Lynda, you will note that those of us who have grown up or adapted to
conditions in Texas are not tolerant of even the least hint of
criticism of our situation.

Well, I'm sorry if I offended. However, they are very much noticeable (by
other native Texan residents also) when, like I said, our yard is the only
yard in the entire neighbourhood that is hosting the cicadas. While
ambling around the neighbourhood, enjoying the peace and quiet and you
start to hear the cicadas distinctive cry, there may as well be a big
fluorescent sign in the sky with an arrow pointing to our house saying,
'Cicadas live here' - hehe.

Oh well, if there's no getting rid of them, then we'll just continue to be
the popular residents that we are. Everyone loves us for our cottonwood
tree too. We have it all :-)

Thanks for the input folks.

Now the fun part about circadas are the skins which they leave. The kid in
me still has a tendency to collect them. Looks like a smaller version of the
circada, brown in color, attached to a tree or the side of your house, with
a slit down the back where the adult came out.

You can also catch an adult and they will make the sound while you are
holding it! Once again, they were always fun while growing up in Texas!


"Lynda LeCompte" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:00:19 -0500, Robbin wrote:


Getting rid of them is very easy -- move back to England!

No thank you - 'fraid Texas is stuck with me ;-)

Yes, they are here every year and you might as well just get used to
them
because you are not getting rid of them. They are a part of the Texas
summer!

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Apr2704a.htm

Thank you - that was an interesting article that verified exactly what my
husband said - that it *is* an annual thing for Texas. They're a
fascinating species really - just so dang loud!

Scares the crap outta you the first time )

"Robbin" wrote in message
...
You can also catch an adult and they will make the sound while you are
holding it! Once again, they were always fun while growing up in Texas!


"Lynda LeCompte" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 02:00:19 -0500, Robbin wrote:


Getting rid of them is very easy -- move back to England!

No thank you - 'fraid Texas is stuck with me ;-)

Yes, they are here every year and you might as well just get used to
them
because you are not getting rid of them. They are a part of the Texas
summer!

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/sto...O/Apr2704a.htm

Thank you - that was an interesting article that verified exactly what my
husband said - that it *is* an annual thing for Texas. They're a
fascinating species really - just so dang loud!

I thought they were a 17 year cyclical species?!

I saved this article on my hard drive last year (2004) that
you might find interesting:

Science - AP
Periodical Cicadas to Return This Spring
Mon Mar 29, 5:11 PM ET
By The Associated Press

Seventeen years of relative quiet could end in forests in
more than a dozen states this spring as insects called
periodical cicadas begin a musical routine that is rare,
regular and romantic.

Almost as abruptly as they arrive in April or early May from
Georgia to Michigan, the cicadas will disappear underground
by early July for another 17 years as part of their normal
life cycle. The grasshopper-like insects are best known for
the scratching, screeching "singing" of the males.

This year's crop of cicadas are dubbed Brood X, or "the big
brood," by scientists.

Indiana officials believe the insects won't be as thick in
this region as in southern parts of the United States. This
year's brood was last seen in 1987.

Like most bug scientists, Indiana State Entomologist Robert
Waltz is eager for the music to begin.

"The event is a great celebration of life," he said. "It is
a cacophony of sound as millions of these insects emerge in
the forests and begin to sing."

Waltz, director of the state's Division of Entomology, said
the awkward, noisy male cicadas are infamous for
accidentally flying through car windows and into home doors.

The more agile females lay their eggs on trees, called
"flagging," and smaller trees may be seriously damaged. The
cicadas return begins when the soil temperature reaches 64
degrees.

"In the outbreaks I have seen, they are everywhere. But it
is important for everyone to realize that these insects are
harmless to humans," he said.

Gene Kritsky, considered a national expert on cicadas, said
some Indiana regions will see more than 100 cicadas per
square yard emerging.

"Yet there is no public health threat," said Kritsky, a
professor at Mount St. Joseph College in Cincinnati. "The
only problem will be for those people who hate big bugs."

Kritsky even has a new book due out next month on the issue,
"Periodical Cicadas =97 the Plague and the Puzzle."

He also helps couples plan their wedding dates and locations
around the cicadas' disruptive visits. He's at 34 married
couples and counting for this year alone.

There are at least 13 broods of 17-year cicadas, plus
another five broods that emerge every 13 years. The last to
emerge, Brood IX, was seen last spring in parts of West
Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.