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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
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@
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Look: Cicadas swarm Kings Island visitors in viral TikTok videos
Greater Cincinnati residents began feeling the emergence of cicadas when Brood XIV (as in 14) started appearing in the area around early May. Now, the presence of those insects is maybe being felt a little too much. The loud-screaming, pesky bugs (which are emerging in numbers around the lower billions in 13 states, including Ohio) have infiltrated one of the area's summer hotspots: Kings Island. And thrill-seekers aren't sure how to deal with them. Some Kings Island visitors expressed their dismay at the cicadas on TikTok. In every video, you can hear the bugs' piercing screams as they swarm and latch onto parkgoers' clothing (don't worry, they don't bite). Below are just some of our favorite Kings Island cicada videos. Enjoy! The Enquirer reached out to Kings Island regarding the insect infiltration and is awaiting a response. Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, said cicadas are still approaching their peak in many areas. Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, an app that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, attributed it to the cooler, rainy days in May. "People should notice the loud singing declining over the next two weeks, and the singing should be over in early July," he said in an email June 10. 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 emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. 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. This 2025 brood was set to emerge in greater numbers along the I-71 corridor and eastward, Kritsky previously told The Enquirer. Scattered light emergences are also likely be seen in parts of western Cincinnati. However, the area will not see the numbers experienced in 2021. Here are the counties likely to be hit the hardest: Adams. Brown. Parts of Butler. Clermont. Most of Clinton. Most of Gallia. Parts of Hamilton. Highland. Parts of Ross. Most of Warren. Ohio Connect Team reporter Chad Murphy contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Look: Cicadas are swarming Kings Island visitors in Cincinnati
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When do cicadas go away? Here's when 17-year brood will peak in Cincinnati. See the map
They have been around for weeks, eerily and loudly calling out, making a mess and peeing on everything. Millions if not billions of 17-year cicadas have emerged in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio. So, is the invasion by Brood XIV is almost over? Are the cicadas about to go away? These 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 since they started to emerge in mid-May, their time is nearly up, right? Here's what you need to know as cicadas peak and die off, and what you can do with the dead bugs left behind. Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, said cicadas are still approaching their peak in many areas. Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, an app that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, attributed it to the cooler, rainy days in May. "People should notice the loud singing declining over the next over the next two weeks, and the singing should be over in early July," he said in an email on June 10. 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 emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. 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. Scotts, the lawn-care company, says you'll want to work quickly to get rid of cicadas once they die, because "big quantities of decaying cicadas can smell like a meat market during a power outage." However, dead cicadas can be fertilizer gold for your yard or garden. The company offers a few tips: Add them to compost: Dead cicadas and nymph shells can be composted. Scotts says their potassium- and nitrogen-rich exoskeletons can improve organic matter. Turn them into mulch: Add nymph shells only to your mulch, unless you can tolerate the smell of decomposing insects. The shells can be whole or crushed. Bury them in a hole: More cicada shells or dead bugs than you can handle? Bury them. It speeds up decomposition and contains the smell. Let them decompose on your lawn: Doing nothing is also an option. But be aware that your yard may stink from the decomposing bugs. USA TODAY offers some additional tips on cleaning up after cicadas. Those include: Clean your gutters: Dead cicadas will clog your downspouts. Check your gutters frequently for the dead insects or their shells. Skim your pool: Likewise, dead cicadas or shells in your pool or hot tub will clog the filters. Skim them regularly, or keep them covered when not in use. Keep the yard tools handy: If you only have a few cicada shells to clean up, a small broom and dustpan may suffice. Larger messes will mean you'll need to break out a push broom, rake or snow shovel to clear the shells and dead insects. Dealing with the dead bugs isn't the only problem cicadas leave behind. Their eggs can attract a pest. One that can bite you and cause a rash. According to WebMD, the oak leaf itch mite is nearly invisible to the naked eye, being about 0.2 mm long. They commonly feed on larvae of an oak gall midge, a type of fly, that lives on pin oak leaves. Starting in late July, these mites drop from the tree or are blown on the wind, landing on animals and humans. Their bites can cause an itchy rash of small red bumps that can be painful to scratch. The rashes can be intense. They're also known to feed on cicada eggs, per WebMD, and were linked to a 2007 outbreak of rashes in Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, where the mites were feeding on 17-year cicada eggs. In 2021, the University of Maryland Extension found it likely that Brood X cicada eggs were likely the mite's food source for an outbreak of rashes in the Washington D.C. area, as reported by the Washington Post. Brood XIV cicadas 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. Cicadas, like locusts, show up suddenly and in large numbers, and are sometimes called "locusts," according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. However, cicadas are not locusts. Locusts are grasshoppers, and the two species are not closely related, according to the Xerces Society. Locusts also swarm for different reasons. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cicada map 2025: Here's when cicadas will peak in Cincinnati, Ohio
