Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • FOX 2

    St. Louis cicada season: Do cicadas bite? Could they pee on you?

    By Joey Schneider,

    24 days ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2buriy_0tJn0qo100

    ST. LOUIS – As cicada season goes full force in the St. Louis region, there are some odd, yet pressing questions people may wish to know about how they impact our daily lives.

    Theoretically speaking, let’s say a cicada lands on you. Could it bite you? Could it pee on you?

    As gross as both of those possibilities sound, we’ll preface those questions by noting that there’s not much harm associated with either scenario.

    Woman and two children die in fiery crash on I-270

    Based on research and expert accounts, here’s what FOX 2 has learned…

    Could a cicada bite you?

    Short answer: Technically, no.

    While cicadas have piercing mouthparts, they are specialized for feeding on trees, according to SLU associate professor Dr. Kasey Fowler-Finn, Ph.D. Cicadas use their mouthparts to suck on fluids from trees.

    However, if a cicada makes contact with a human’s skin for an extended period of time, there is a chance it could mistake the skin for a tree part, according to Orkin Pest Control Company . If the cicada tries to penetrate your skin, you may feel a mild, prickly sensation that resembles a bite. Generally, the sensation is short-lived, and it’s unlikely to cause irritation like mosquito bites.

    Cicadas also lack stingers, so they are unable to sting humans as well.

    Close

    Thanks for signing up!

    Watch for us in your inbox.

    Daily News

    Could a cicada pee on you?

    Short answer: Yes.

    Cicadas feed on plant parts that are high in water content. As a result, they eliminate waste in the form of urine. According to the New York Times , cicadas can drink 300 times their weight in plant sap on any given day and pee up to 10 feet of fluid per second.

    According to the Associated Press , cicadas release a fluid known as “honeydew” and can pee up to three times stronger and faster than humans. It’s sticky, but not toxic in nature.

    Sure, if you’re in contact with a cicada or situated near bundles of them, they may squirt some urine on you, possibly in droplets. If this happens and you need to clean up the mess, a simple mixture of water and soap should do the trick.

    All things considered, it may be annoying for humans deal with a a bite-like sensation and urine from cicadas, but experts deem both situations are harmless long-term.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular
    Total Apex Sports & Entertainment27 days ago
    Total Apex Sports & Entertainment15 hours ago

    Comments / 0