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Cicada molt

Description:

Gross

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5 Comments

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 11 years ago

Many invertebrates have life cycles that ebb and flow. When the prey is plentiful, the predators respond with like numbers. I've seen it with several different species and every year can be quite different. This year seems to be a booming year for both cicadas and the predatory wasps. Another factor with the wasps is soil. Some places have better soil to dig in than others, so it is chosen as a desirable location, and perhaps the other wasps pick up on that and utilize it as well. I've been at my current house for 5 years now and I just saw a cicada killer buzzing around for the first time (and I pay attention to stuff like that). Sometimes these animals are around but don't get noticed much. There are always a bunch of different variables to consider.

Anyway, back to the wasps - they should not be a problem for you or anyone who is allergic. You would have to physically grab one in your hand and contain her tightly to get her to sting (and I know you wouldn't do that!). They don't protect their burrow like paper wasps and hornets protect their homebase. I've known of others who have hovered over the burrow as she is dragging back a cicada with no problems whatsoever. :-)

mn801
mn801 11 years ago

Thanks Aaron for you info. It was vert helpful. Just strange that our front lawn is full of nests! We have been here 3 years and never had this problem before. And they seem to fly right at you even though you are not near there nests. Ive had a few come right at my face!! And i happen to be allergic to different bees. That's why I asked if it happens very 7 years. A friend had told me this!! Again thanks for your help:)

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 11 years ago

Cicadas emerge every year. They just have different broods, so each year is a different group. Scroll down and check out the section called "Life Cycle" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada

As for the cicada killer wasps, they're virtually harmless. The females capture and immobilize cicadas with their sting and drag them back to a burrow they've created. They then lay a single egg on the still-alive, yet unmoving cicada and their larva feeds on it. They should be finished digging and laying fairly soon.

mn801
mn801 11 years ago

Ok it's gross because I've never seen this type of bug before! And it turned its head at me when I took the pic!!
Anyway is this the year for the cicadas?? We have what people are telling us cicada wasps and ground nests all over the front yard !! When do they leave?? Is it also true they come every 7 yrs??

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 11 years ago

This isn't even a living and moving creature. It's merely the final molt of a cicada. How is that gross?

mn801
Spotted by
mn801

Brewster, New York, USA

Spotted on Aug 2, 2012
Submitted on Aug 3, 2012

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