Locust question.

[Mobydick]

I found a locust this mornin on my porch. It's the first one i've seen this year. It is greeen and white. I know there are the 17 year ( i think 17) locusts and the 4 year and I think there is another one yet. Which one is the one I found? I know it isn't the longer year ones because they were out a couple years ago.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I live in PA too. While they are commonly referred to as "locusts" I believe you are likely looking at a cicada.

Locusts actually look like this.

Cicadas look like this.

Two years ago, the cicada hatch was HUGE in PA.  There are some that will hatch every year, but your large hatches will occur on the timetables you stated in your post.

Wayne

That may be the most scientific thing I have ever posted.  

[Raul]

Something like this ?

There are several species whose life cycle varies from 2-5 years  so in the ones with shorter life cycles is not extraordinary to see them every one or two years while the 17 year cicada only appears every 17 years.

Locusts are a type of grasshopper.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Holy crap, I was actually right!!!!!!  LOL

[Raul]

I 've never seen 17 year cicadas down here where I live in central Mexico, but every two years we do get a cicada hatching, they look pretty much like the one in the picture, there you are in the lake with temps in the 100s+, blazing sun, scorching heat and ......... that annoying sound all friggin day long !  , add to that the crickets  :.

It ain 't pretty.  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Raul, the fish in PA sure do love 'em.

I caught a 22in brown trout on one two years ago during our hatch. Just picked it up off the ground, hooked it and tossed it in.

Cant beat it.

[Raul]

Check this puppy, click on the square right above where it says length.  

Bass do love them here too, there 's another bug that hatches during the summer ( which I hate cuz they eat my figs ), the green june beetle ( we call them "mayates" ):

Kanabun colored topwaters look like them ( metallic emerald green ), when they hatch you make a killing fishing with topwaters.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

The sound on that video made my skin crawl!

Thats crazy.

[Taliesin]

There are MANY different cicada species out there. Some hatch every year, some every 4 years, some every 7 years, some every 10 or 11, and some every 17 years.

In some parts of the States it seems like they have 2 year hatches, but it's really 2 different species with 4 year cycles.

(Not sure about Mexico, you might have a 2-year cycle there).

I love keeping track of cicada hatches, but right now I am stuck in western Missouri where all they have are 3 species with an annual hatch.

Also, all of the longer cycles can change some. The 7 year cicadas might show up at 6 or 8 years, but 95% of the time it's going to be 7 years.

The 10 or 11 year cicadas split some with them hatching at 10 years 60% of the time, 11 years 38% of the time, and 9 years 2% of the time.

Fascinating insects.

Texas is seeing a resurgence of the Giant Cicada also. It creates a noise similar to a train whistle and almost as loud at 100 decibles.

[Mobydick]

Thanks guys. Raul, that first picture you posted was it. And SPEEDBEAD, you was also right about the fish loving them cicadas up here in PA. I used them on a 2/0 worm hook under a bobber, and a split shot to put it down. The smallies in the river went nuts over them.

[skillet]

Raul,

 One of those pics looks like what we call June Bug, used to tie sewing thread to one of there legs and let them fly around when we were kids (must have been real bored). Never thought about them being fish bait. I've got a couple of fig trees and the June Bugs don't bother them, but birds and squirels like them about 2 days before they are really ripe >...

                                       As Ever,

                                        skillet

[Raul]

You did that too ? ( tying a thread to the leg ) , man this only proves that kids are kids everywhere  ;D, I do hate them eating my figs, birds pick on one and before you know it becomes a mass of beetles feasting on it  >, they also feast on my granadas  > and peaches  >

Granada fruit: