What is a cicada?
Cicadas are medium-to-large insects, iconic for their loud buzzing sounds, which are made by males to attract females during mating season. The volume of these buzzes can reach over 100 decibels, louder than a subway train! They have a beetle-like body (hard shell), short antennae, and two pairs of wings. Most of their lives are spent underground where they feed on plant and tree roots. However, they emerge from the ground to mate and lay eggs.
What is the 2024 double cicada emergence?
There are annual cicadas, which emerge every year, and are the ones you likely encounter most often. However, there are also periodical cicadas, which emerge every 13 or 17 years in massive numbers. In just a few weeks, these 13 and 17 year cycles will line up, resulting in the emergence of two groups of cicadas at once. Luckily, the regions where each group lives only slightly overlap, so most communities will only face one of the two broods! For those wondering, Brood XIX will appear in states like Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, while Brood XIII will be in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa.
Is it safe for my dog to eat a cicada?
Since cicadas arenāt poisonous or venomous, it generally shouldnāt be an issue if your dog eats a bug or two. However, itās important to be aware that there is still a slight chance that consuming crunchy insects can cause your dog a trip to the veterinarian. If your pet starts expressing abnormal side effects, such as being less responsive, salivating more than normal, or showing symptoms of depression, then it may be a sign of gastroenteritis (caused by the cicada shells), or potentially a blockage. Rarely, ingestion can cause an allergic reaction, such as hives, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, upset stomach, and/or fever. So although minimal cicada consumption isnāt considered dangerous, itās still recommended that you keep your dog supervised during cicada season.
What can you do to keep your pet safe?
- Try to avoid areas with large cicada populations – Green expanses with treetops for cicada mating, such as forests and wooded parks, are concentrated with cicadas. During the cicada season, it may be safer to walk your dog on paved paths instead of parks.
- Keep your pet leashed – Rather than letting your pet run around unsupervised or unleashed, itās better to keep them leashed as much as possible so you can keep an eye on them during Brood X. If you usually let your pet roam outdoors in your backyard for extended periods of time, you may want to check in on them every so often to make sure theyāre not munching on cicadas.
- Look out for predators – The outbreak of cicadas also means there is an increase in predators, such as rats, snakes, birds, and other insects. While some of these predators may not pose a threat to your dog, some of them, such as snakes, can be venomous and lethal to your pets. Rats also tend to carry diseases, such as rabies or leptospirosis. You can keep your pet safe from these threats by staying up to date on your petās vaccinations.
https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/are-cicadas-safe-for-dogs-to-eat-what-to-know
https://www.yahoo.com/news/are-you-ready-for-the-great-cicada-emergence-of-2024-170259906.html
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