Cicadas!!!

[Jennifer Tramell]

Here in Middle Tennessee, the cicadas are back.  Every 13 years they come with a vengence; I mean, they are EVERYWHERE and it has just started.  Cicada skins are all over the grass, ivy, tree trunks, leaves, you name it - they are on it.  What does this have to do with doodles, you ask?  Well, I was outside and I noticed that Webster & Charlotte and their fellow doodle buddy, Charlie, were eating cicada skins.  Sucking them off the tree trunk like an anteater. 

Uncertain about the dietary implications of cicada eating, I immediately consulted the internet.  According to the cicada website, they are not toxic unless they have been treated with a pesticide.  The website does say "Big stupid dogs love them".  I am not going to promote the eating of cicadas, but I am relieved to know that they are relatively harmless.  Now, if I can keep my big stupid dogs from eating them....

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I walked through one area at work today and there were handrails literally COVERED in cicadas. 100s for sure. Gross

[Julie and Maggie]

I've never heard of those things before. Guess we don't have them in the Bay Area. Is that weird one without wings another bug or just one that hasn't grown his wings yet? Those pinchers look scary.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's the shell...they shed their exoskeletons, and leave them all over the place. The "pincers" are just the empty parts that cover their legs. They're really perfectly harmless.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Just look at how creative you be with cicada shells:

[Leslie and Halas]

That's just creepy.  I knew someone who called these "skin bugs."

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

this beats dear heads any day.  LOL

[Ann Kendig]

When we were kids we would stick them on our dog's muzzle.  After she'd knocked it off she'd eat them. We'd giggle because it sounded like she was eating a potato chip!  Now, I don't even like picking them up. Sheba has found a few and chewed on them but didn't eat them.  Duke is waaay to prissy to put one in his mouth!  : )

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ann!   Shame on you!  LOL.  Watch out for your nose next, Duke.

[Ann Kendig]

Hey, we were kids!  lol  Duke would freak out if I did it to him, not Sheba.  : 0

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

DH just told me that last week he read that Ya'll down South were freezing them and using them for dog treats. Yes, he did say that!!!   Also, the article said that they were a good source of protein.

Certainly, this may be a lot better for dogs than those cardboard pieces of junk they box and call dog bones!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

At first I thought I was interested in this discussion but after reading your comments I've just got one word - GROSS!!!!!!!!

[cheryl & oliver]

I hate anything that slithers or crawls, and these things you have pictured are really disgusting!!!..Definately I would be a shut in until they were gone...I would be freaking...My kids and yes I had boys, 2 of them, learned at an early age that bugs, snakes, and other assorted creepy crawley things were not allowed in the house, ever....I know I deprived my kids, but too bad, better that then having a raving lunatic for a mother.  When we first moved to Florida from New Jersey,( 28 yrs ago) I almost had a nervous breakdown with the bugs and snakes.  We lived in a kind of new area, so all the building took away their homes, I guess...It took me years to sort of get over my fear and it is not gone yet.  Never mind alligators, but where we are we haven't seen any in years...But we have them too, so I know they are around, lol...ewwwww, no bugs for me!!!!!!