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USA Today
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Watch pet cicada join 5-year-old girl on amusement park rides in Ohio
"Both my daughters are very interested and love all things creepy crawly," the girl's mother, Ashlea Jelliffe, said. A 5-year-old girl is captivating social media users after she took her "pet" cicada with her on a rollercoaster ride in Ohio. Margot, 5, adopted 'Cade the Cader," a male cicada, while visiting Kings Island amusement park in Mason, about 27 miles north of Cincinnati, her mother, Ashlea Jelliffe, told USA TODAY over email. She spotted the chirpy critter along a walkway in the kids' area of the park called "Planet Snoopy," Jelliffe said. Cade, who Jelliffe described as a "very friendly and somewhat docile male cicada" accompanied Margot as she sat on various rides in the park, including the Great Pumpkin Coaster, the Grand Carousel, Boo Blasters and Joe Cool's Dogem School. Watch 'Cade the Cader' ride amusement park ride with Margot Video shared by Jelliffe shows Cade riding the Great Pumpkin Coaster with his new friend and her sister Skylar, 8. Margot can be seen holding the cicada between her fingers during the ride as it goes up and down the tracks. "Most male cicadas are a little more rowdy, but he happily stuck around with us for several rides in the park," Jelliffe said. 'Go find yourself a nice girl!' After a fun evening at the amusement park, the family decided to set Cade free. Jelliffe said the critter was with them for about three hours and spent a "good amount of that time clung to Margot's favorite blue shirt." Margot and her family then found a nice tree near a fountain in the park where they said their goodbyes and set Cade free, Jelliffe said. "Margot loves the cicadas, but she also respects (their) short lifespan and need to find a mate," Jelliffe said. "As we set him free, she made sure to tell him to 'Go find yourself a nice girl!'" Cade is not the first cicada Margot adopted from this season's broods. "Both my daughters are very interested and love all things creepy crawly," Jelliffe said. "So naturally, the immersion of the large bugs this year struck a chord with them." The family also has a dog named Piper, a Boston terrier-beagle mix. What are cicadas? Cicadas are insects that make a rhythmic chirping or creaking noise, according to etymonline. They emerge in groups called broods. Cicadas belong to the order Hemiptera, the same one that includes stink bugs, bed bugs, aphids and cicada families, according to Cicada Safari, a research group that crowdsources cicada data and sightings. Among the cicadas, only the males sing, sounding off a mating call, Cicada Safari reported. After hatching, the immature cicadas or nymphs spend 17 or 13 years underground, feeding on roots, then emerge during the spring and transform into adult cicadas. The current brood, Brood XIV, is periodical and emerges every 17 years. This year, Brood XIV emerged in late April and early May. Brood XIV is concentrated in the eastern U.S. and cicadas have been spotted in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and North Carolina, over the past few months, as per Cicada Safari's map. There have been over 1,000 sightings of cicadas in the Cincinnati area, according to the map. Contributing: Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Anthony Robledo, Saleen Martin, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Here's where 17-year cicadas are the worst in Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio. See the map
They're causing chaos at King's Island. They're being blamed for car crashes. Millions of not billions of 17-year cicadas in Brood XIV have emerged in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio. And even though they've been around for weeks, they are still making themselves known: Screaming from plants and trees, making a mess and peeing on everything. But their time is growing short. Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, said in a June 16 email that people in the areas heaviest with cicadas should start "to notice things getting quieter next week." What areas are those? Here's where the largest number of cicadas have been in the Greater Cincinnati area, according to Kritsky. Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, an app that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, was out mapping the 17-year cicada emergence as recently as Monday, June 16, said the heaviest presence of 17-year cicadas have been in Loveland and Mason, northeast of Cincinnati, as well as Pattison Park in Batavia and East Fork State Park in Bethel, both roughly 25 miles east of the Queen City. According to the map generated by Cicada Safari, where users can submit reports of cicada sightings, there have been tens of thousands of reports in Cincinnati and its northern suburbs. But if you head south, crossing the Ohio River into Northern Kentucky, cicada reports dwindle until you hit Louisville and Lexington, per the map. So when will these cicadas go away? The 17-year cicadas are only around for a few weeks, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, as they seek mates and lay eggs for the next generation. And while they started to emerge in mid-May, they are still going strong. Kritsky attributed the slow emergence to cooler, rainy days in May. Cicadas need the soil temperatures to hit 64 degrees to emerge, per ODNR, which typically happens in the second half of May. Following his recent mapping excursion, Kritsky said the big die-off has not yet begun. "The cicadas are still mostly in the trees singing," he said in a June 17 email. But he expects it to start soon. "People should notice the loud singing declining over the next two weeks, and the singing should be over in early July," he said previously. Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, according to ODNR. They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs. Annual cicadas emerge worldwide each year, but periodical cicadas are found only in eastern North America. They live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years before emerging above ground in massive numbers. Different populations of periodical cicadas are called 'broods' and are numbered with Roman numerals. One of the biggest tourist attractions in Southwest Ohio — Kings Island, in Mason — is also in the center of one of the largest cicada emergences. And some visitors have taken to TikTok to share their disgust, the Enquirer reported on June 11. Videos show people ducking to get away from the bugs, or just running off in some cases. And their screaming is audible in each one. Kritsky told Scripps News Services that he has one important piece of advice for Kings Island visitors. "Just enjoy the cicadas, and when you're on the ride, keep your mouth closed," he said. Brood XIV cicadas of 2025 will stretch from northern Georgia to Massachusetts. In Ohio, they were expected to emerge in a more than dozen counties, per ODNR, mostly in Southwest Ohio: Adams Brown Butler Champaign Clermont Clinton Gallia Greene Hamilton Highland Jackson Lawrence Pike Ross Scioto Warren Washington Some of the edge counties will not see as heavy an emergence as others. The cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years are different from the ones seen every summer, and it's not just the amount of time. Kritsky told WKRN in Nashville that periodical cicadas emerge in May or June, while annual cicadas show up later, in late June and July, and through the rest of summer. The two types also look different from each other. Periodical cicadas have black bodies with red eyes and red-orange wings and can be anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to an inch and one-quarter in length. Annual cicadas have dark green to black bodies with green-veined wings and black eyes and are larger. They can grow to an inch and one-third in length. Any animal that can eat insects will eat cicadas, according to the Purdue University Extension. Those include fish, bears, birds, raccoons and even other insects, like parasitic wasps. They're also safe for your dog to eat, to a point. According to the American Kennel Club, a dog that eats the occasional cicada should be fine. However, dogs that gorge on cicadas will find their exoskeletons difficult to digest, resulting in an upset stomach, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Some dogs that overconsume cicadas may require a trip to the vet for IV fluids, or pain and anti-nausea medications. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's where cicadas are the worst in Cincinnati, Ohio. See the map
New York Post
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
Buzzing cicada causes panicked Ohio driver to lose control and flip car: ‘Keep the windows up'
What a buzz kill! An Ohio driver bugged out behind the wheel when a rogue cicada flew into his SUV — causing him to lose control and flip the vehicle as he frantically tried to swat away the winged intruder. The wild wreck unfolded Wednesday afternoon, when the bug-eyed menace zipped through an open window of the 37-year-old driver's Kia Sorento as he cruised through Blue Ash, about 14 miles northeast of Cincinnati, according to a crash report obtained by USA Today. 4 The frantic driver rolled his SUV onto its side this week while trying to get a cicada out of his car. Blue Ash Police Department/Facebook The panicked motorist tried to shoo the buzzing nuisance away but ended up veering off the road, crashing into a pole and rolling his silver car onto its passenger side. 'We're all well aware that these pesky cicada don't respect personal space, including while driving,' the Blue Ash Police Department said in a Facebook post. 4 The panicked motorist tried to shoo the buzzing nuisance away but ended up veering off the road, crashing into a pole and rolling his silver car onto its passenger side. AP 4 The red-eyed bugs are the second-largest of the periodical cicadas — a species that hunkers underground for years as nymphs, feeding on tree sap, before bursting to the surface when the soil temperatures reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit. AP 'It may be a good idea to keep the windows up for the next several weeks. As you can see, a cicada attack can be dangerous.' Police also shared a photo of the mangled car on its side, with a shattered windshield and airbags seemingly deployed. The driver walked away unharmed, though cops joked that the noisy suspect 'fled the scene.' 4 Billions of the cyclical critters from the Brood XIV class are expected to descend on 13 states this year. AP Billions of the cyclical critters from the Brood XIV class are expected to descend on 13 states this year, including New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, experts have warned. The red-eyed bugs are the second-largest of the periodical cicadas — a species that hunkers underground for years as nymphs, feeding on tree sap, before bursting to the surface when the soil temperatures reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cicadas blamed for crash that left car on its side
The Brief Cicadas were blamed for a crash in Ohio that left a vehicle on its side. Police warned that it may be a good idea to keep windows up while cicadas emerge from the ground to mate. Cicada season is in full swing in some parts of the U.S., and they're doing more than just buzzing loudly in the trees. A police department in Ohio shared a photo on Facebook of a car that had rolled on its side while driving. They said cicadas were the culprit. What they're saying "We're all well aware that these pesky cicadas don't respect personal space, including while driving," the Blue Ash Police Department said on its Facebook page. "It may be a good idea to keep the windows up for the next several weeks. As you can see, a cicada attack can be dangerous. READ MORE: 'Jaws' was fiction; this was the terrifying true story Fortunately, no one was injured, but police joked that the suspect fled the scene." The backstory This year, the cohort of cicadas known as "Brood XIV" has emerged from the ground to look for mates, according to FOX Weather. They've been spotted in several states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. The buzzing sound cicadas are known for is actually part of this courtship ritual, as the males produce the noise to attract females. While this cicada phenomenon occurs every year, for Brood XIV and many other cicadas, it's a small part of multiyear, multigenerational cycles that are connected to geography, the seasons and the weather. The cicadas of Brood XIV emerge from the ground every 17 years. This means that the last time they saw the Sun, President George W. Bush was nearing the end of his presidency and Apple was about to launch the App Store. The Source This report includes information from the Blue Ash Police Department and FOX Weather.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- USA Today
Cicada flew into an Ohio driver's window, caused a crash and 'fled the scene'
Cicada flew into an Ohio driver's window, caused a crash and 'fled the scene' No one was injured in the crash on June 11, Blue Ash police said. Show Caption Hide Caption Millions of cicadas expected in Georgia More cicadas than usual are expected again in Georgia this year when Brood 14 of the 17-year-periodical cicadas emerge. Fox - 5 Atlanta An Ohio man rolled his SUV onto its side this week while trying to get a cicada out of the vehicle, local authorities said. 'We're all well aware that these pesky cicadas don't respect personal space, including while driving,' the Blue Ash Police Department wrote in a Facebook post on June 12. 'It may be a good idea to keep the windows up for the next several weeks. As you can see, a cicada attack can be dangerous.' Here is what we know about the crash and the cicadas chirping across the U.S. this year. Driver hit a pole after cicada startled them The crash happened around 1:48 p.m. on June 11 in Blue Ash, a suburb of Cincinnati, according to a crash report obtained by USA TODAY. The report states that the driver, a 37-year-old man, was in his 2021 Kia Sorento when a cicada flew into the window. He tried to get the bug out of the SUV, but he lost control of the vehicle. The driver then veered off the right side of the road, hit a pole, and rolled the car onto the passenger side. First responders evaluated the driver, but he said he did not need to be taken to a hospital, per the crash report. No one was injured in the accident, police said, joking that the cicada suspect 'fled the scene.' What are cicadas? Cicadas are insects that make a rhythmic chirping or creaking noise, according to etymonline. They emerge in groups called broods. Cicadas belong to the order Hemiptera, the same one that includes stink bugs, bed bugs, aphids and cicada families, according to Cicada Safari, a research group that crowdsources cicada data and sightings. Among the cicadas, only the males sing, sounding off a mating call, Cicada Safari reported. After hatching, the immature cicadas or nymphs spend 17 or 13 years underground, feeding on roots, then emerge during the spring and transform into adult cicadas. The current brood, Brood XIV, is periodical and emerges every 17 years. This year, Brood XIV emerged in late April and early May. Sometimes there is overlap or cicadas do not count the years correctly,' wrote Gene Kritsky, who runs Cicada Safari. Where have cicadas emerged this year? Brood XIV is concentrated in the eastern U.S. Cicadas have been spotted over the past few months in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and North Carolina, per Cicada Safari's map. There have been over 1,000 sightings of cicadas in the Cincinnati area, and over 1,900 in the Asheville, North Carolina area, according to the Cicada Safari map. 'People should notice the loud singing declining over the next two weeks, and the singing should be over in early July,' Kritsky told the Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY network, on June 10. Contributing: Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer; Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
