The year of the cicada

The 17-year cicadas, also known as Brood XIV, emerged in force in Asheville about a week ago. I’ve heard of tons spotted in north Asheville. Anybody else around town got lots of cicadas out and about?

Since that time, the bugs have gone from nymph to adult (they molt and shed their skin), and worked their way up, up, up to find a lover. The males use their vibrating sound to attract females. After getting it on, the females will lay eggs. Those eggs will hatch later this summer, and the tiny nymphs will fall into the ground to burrow and start sucking sap for the next 17 years, when this brood comes out to party all over again.

Good info here, and check out www.cicadamania.com for message boards and lots more. You’ll learn that cicadas are not locusts, they don’t bite and they might choke your cat if she eats too many.

Your cat isn’t the only one who can eat cicadas. You can, too! Here’s a recipe I found:

Cicada Stir-Fry:
Ingredients
minced onion, coriander (cilantro), fresh gingerroot
sliced carrots, chopped cauliflower and/or broccoli
water chestnuts and/or other vegetables of your choice
bean sprouts and snow peas
blanched, teneral cicadas
In a wok or other suitable pan, heat a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add ingredients in the order listed above when those in the most recent addition are partially cooked. Serve over whole-grain (“brown”) rice and add soy sauce to taste.