Photo: Russell Marshall, Shutterstock
I’m sure I need not remind you of the Murder Hornet Saga of 2020, but you should know that 2021 is trying to top what seemed uptoppable by gifting us (or at least Texas) with the emergence of a type of arachnid some folks lovingly refer to as “acid-spitting ‘land lobsters.’” To be fair, that’s not a totally accurate description of this creature… well, except for the whole acid thing.
Summer rains bring vinegaroons out of their burrows in search of food and love. Vinegaroons are about 3 inches long and relatively benign unless you happen to annoy them. They can pinch with their heavy mouthparts (pedipalps) and shoot a well-aimed spray of 85% acetic acid (vinegar) from the base of their “whip” to protect themselves.
Do cicadas pee?
Yes. After cicadas are done drinking sap (also called xylem), they pee out the access fluids, Cicada Mania said.
Are those white cicadas albino?
While they may look like albino cicadas, the white and fleshy-looking bugs are just young versions of the Brood X cicadas.
When cicadas crawl out of the ground, they re called nymphs. After they crawl out and latch onto something, they begin to molt.
The nymph s skin splits open and the mature adult cicada emerges. When it emerges, the cicada appears white. It s only temporary.
The cicada s exoskeleton will begin to harden and turn black, like the adults we recognize. Then they ll crawl into trees where they continue to harden.
Trillions of periodical cicadas are tunneling out from their underground homes for the first time in 17 years to mate, loudly. Your questions, answered.