Does anyone know if the cicadas will affect the Chicago Avon Walk for Breast Cancer?

Question

I've never done the walk before and now that I am it seems as if the cicadas will be coming up after 17 years. I'm not a big camper to begin with but if there are going to be millions of bugs around I'd just rather get a hotel room. I'm not familiar with where we set up tents and if it's a wooded area in Chicago that may be home to cicadas. Help!

Answer 1

I've been through several cicada hatches.  The cicadas are completely harmless, but they can become a nuisance when they emerge in the millions.  Cicadas produce a buzzzing sound that gets unbelievably loud when there are large numbers of them - this could make it hard to sleep in a tent (unless you use ear plugs).  You cannot hear someone else on your cell phone when the cicadas are buzzing.  They also end up creating a dead animal smell when they start to die off.  

The insects don't bite, and they try to avoid people.  However,  they are poor fliers, so they sometimes land on people, and end up in your car, inside buildings, and also in your food if eating outside.   Its actually pretty funny watching OTHER people when a cicada lands on them - they break out into the cicada dance trying to shake the bugs off.

Answer 2

Cicadas are also called Katydids.  They generally dont congregate on the ground, perferring trees and bushes for their cammoflage value.  Also, birds LOVE these juich tidbits of protein and will be voraciously cleaning up as many as they can.  About the only bother they will be to you will be the noise the make.  One Katydid can make a racket, a million might be deafening (grin).  Walk for breast cancer...make your statement and show your support...and camp out!  It'll be fun.