Not here, anyway.
Not within the 30 square yards or so where most of this blog happens.
Not in the rest of Ridley Township or Swarthmore Borough where Little Crum Creek flows.
And not, as far as I can tell, along Crum Creek from Swarthmore down to the Delaware River.
So far.
So, I traveled about an hour north up the PA Turnpike (I-476) to Green Lane Park in Montgomery County to meet a friend and track down Brood X before it’s “gone”.
Brood X is the generation of Periodical Cicadas (Magicicada) emerging en masse this spring.
Feeding underground for the past 17 years, cicada nymphs are now surfacing to molt a final time (leaving old skin behind like shells), take wing, sing, mate, and produce a new generation of eggs.
Once hatched, new nymphs will find their way underground to resume the 17-year cycle.
How about you … happened to see a cicada lately? I’d love to hear where!
Here’s some of what we found at Green Lane Park:





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Cool Resources
- Informative & Exciting Video from PBS NewsHour:
https://youtu.be/HdV-V777JMA
. - Interactive Description of a Cicada’s Life Cycle from The Washington Post
(select “Allow audio” for cool sound effects!):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/interactive/2021/cicadas-lifecycle-brood-x/
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May 31, 2021 at 8:11 am
Here in central Maryland, I believe we are the epicenter. They are a phenomenon of nature in their 17-year life cycle and astonishing numbers and, for the most part, welcome comic relief.
June 1, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Cool! I found myself laughing when I found them, too!
May 30, 2021 at 12:29 am
Hey Scott,
Nothing yet in Upper Oxford. Friends in North East MD. have them in abundance.
Hope all is well with you and yours!
Best,
Bob and Brenda
June 1, 2021 at 12:08 pm
Hey Bob & Brenda! All is well here. Abundant green along the creek. I hope your friends are appreciating this phenomenon!