The Cicadas Are Coming!

Sometime between "Tuesday and June 1" -- how's that for weirdly specific ambiguity? -- billions of cicadas will emerge from midwestern soil after 17 years of hibernation, climbing trees in search of mates and making a sound as loud and high-pitched as a kitchen blender. In anticipation, outdoor concerts and parties are being canceled, and both insect-eating animals and adventurous will gorge on the shrimp-sized, high-protein bugs.

The insects are eaten in other parts of the world, with descriptions of the taste ranging from shrimp to canned asparagus to not much at all.

No recipe has been decided upon yet, but Hammond assumes they will be fried and perhaps accompanied by a dip or salsa.

"Honestly, they'll probably go down easier that way," he said. "Who knows? Maybe we'll love it. We may have to travel around the country as infestations occur."

Swarms of cicadas emerging in Midwest [Associated Press]

Image: Federico Quintero*