Billions of locust-like cicadas are scheduled to hit the east coast this spring. From Buzzing Mass of Cicadas Get Ready for East Coast:
Called periodical cicadas, the thumb-sized insects emerge every 17 years and fly around in a noisy, mating frenzy before dying weeks later, littering the area with crunchy shells.Mistakenly called locusts by early settlers, they are distinguished by their beady red eyes. What is most memorable is the deafening noise the males make with drum-like organs called timbals to attract more sedate females.
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These periodical cicadas are called Brood X, named by an entomologist who worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the turn of the 19th century.
Know any good recipes?
North American Indians used to eat the protein-packed cicada and Simon says they are best when they are still white but can also be fried or served with a variety of sauces.Simon once ate them at a reception for scientists with a Sichuan sauce. Raw they taste like a mixture of avocado and potato, she said.