THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#455Â Â Â FRIDAY MAY 06, 2016
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Millions of these ‘Aliens’ are coming to Northfield Center
After waiting for 17-years in the ground beneath your lawns and landscaping, the 17-year cicadas are about to emerge into the air and sunlight of northeast Ohio. Sometime during the middle or end of this month millions upon millions of cicada nymphs will crawl out of the ground and attach themselves to just about any vertical structure, especially trees, buildings, poles, etc. They will then stop and molt into 1.5-inch insects and once their wings expand and dry, they will fly off and seek mates.
During the following weeks these non-biting and non-stinging insects will make their presence known by their loud cricket-like singing that will occur day and night. For this unique process to begin, the ground temperature will have to reach 64-degrees at a depth of 8-inches.
I’ve witnessed this phenomenon in 1965, 1982 and in 1999 and although it’s a nuisance to many I find it a remarkable part of nature. They cause very little harm during their short visit. Most vulnerable are young trees and shrubs because the female Cicadas lay their eggs in the small young branches, which eventually die and fall to the ground. The eggs then end up in the ground where they will hatch into new larvae and begin their new 17-year underground life cycles.
Those living in older neighborhoods where the ground has not been significantly disturbed during the past 17-years will see many more of the Cicadas emerging but eventually the entire region will be visited and repopulated once they take flight. Again, the Cicada’s are harmless and will not hurt anyone or any pets. In fact, dogs and cats will get plenty of exercise chasing and yes, even eating them!
I took the photograph above in 1999 at Ledges Park in Twinsburg (Rt. 91 south of Post Rd.). This is one of the most unique photographs in my 35,000 photo collection. I took it from above a Cicada that was emerging from its shell. Although the photo appears to be that of a nightmarish alien invader, what is actually depicted is not really the Cicada’s face. The head was looking down and what appears to be two large ‘alien’ eyes are actually its shoulders. The white glowing ‘lips’ is a reflection of the round macro flash that was attached to the front of my macro (extreme close up) lens.
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Thank you,
Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Trustee Vice-Chairman
Northfield Center-Sagamore Hills Fire Dist. Board
330-467-9451
TrusteeBuescher@aol.com
www.northfieldcenter.com
AMATEUR RADIO STATION N8HHG
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