We got this update from Lenny Lampel about the Cicadas. Sad to say, if you were hoping for a visit in North Mecklenburg looks like it will not be happening.
To all volunteer observers and others that have submitted data,
By now the Brood XIX cicadas should have emerged from any locations where they are present. Reports are still coming in and we’re starting to get a real good picture of where they are, as well as where they are not found within our region. Thank you all so much for watching and listening for them and for submitting information or reports if you’ve observed any activity. It appears that the major pockets of activity have been in areas below I85, especially in the Ballantyne area, south Charlotte, Pineville (extending into Lancaster County), Waxhaw in Union County and Harrisburg/Concord in Cabarrus County. There have also been a few scattered reports for single cicadas or low numbers of cicadas from the University area. If you are interested, you can view the map on the website which is continuously being updated to display all of the documented emergences in the region. Here’s the link:
By the time this emergence is completely over, we’ll have a real strong understanding of the distribution and population sizes of Brood XIX cicadas within our region. I was surprised that we did not receive any reports from the western half of Charlotte, the Lake Norman region or surrounding counties such as Lincoln and Iredell. If you were watching for cicadas around your home or neighborhood and did not see any (as was the case with me) then you may be interested in visiting a nearby active location before the action is over, which will be around the end of May.
Even after the cicadas have all died (early June), we’ll still be looking for information. We’re very interested in getting info and reports of “flagging” in trees. We’d love to have as much information as possible on areas where flagging is observed, because these will be the areas where Brood XIX cicadas should appear 13 years from now, in 2024. So please keep those reports coming!
If you’d like to get out and experience the emergence before it’s over, there are two good locations on public properties that are worth visiting in the area. One is the Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway in south Charlotte. The greenway is accessed by a parking area (with restrooms) on Johnston Road. To get there from I485, take exit 61A, head north on Johnston Rd for roughly one mile and the parking area will be on your right. This is also the parking area for the Four Mile Creek Greenway, which also is worth a visit for cicadas. The emergence by the greenways began at the end of April, so they’re starting to wind down now, but there should still be a good amount of activity for the next week or so. The second location (and maybe the better one to visit) is Pharr Mill Road Park in Harrisburg. The emergence started about a week later there, so it may be more active than the greenways right now. The address is 6775 Pharr Mill Road, Harrisburg, NC 28075, if you’d like to map it.
Thank you all so much for taking the time and effort to help with this Cicada watch project! Please let me know if you have any questions or need any information.
Thanks again!
Lenny
Lenny Lampel
Natural Resources Coordinator
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
Conservation Science Office