Asheville – Brood XIV is back. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that trillions of cicadas will emerge this year, with millions per acre likely in some areas. Should we be afraid?
A first encounter with these sticky, pervasive creatures can be unsettling. A hiker in Pisgah Forest may come face to face with them clinging to every available leaf or even have one attach itself to their leg. Do these creatures inject poison or lay eggs under the skin?
The scientific consensus is that they pose no risk to public health. They have no stingers and no jawbones. However, they can poke holes in people and attempt to suck sap from them, or they can poke with their pointy feet or ovipositors. While some naturalists claim otherwise, the EPA assures us that cicadas cannot lay eggs in the skin of humans, pets, or farm animals. The agency also confirms that they do not carry diseases. If one lands on you, a simple nudge is usually enough to shoo it away…