Cicadas Are Back But We Shouldn’t See Too Many of them in Louisiana This Summer

What are the chances of seeing cicadas bothering us this summer in Louisiana? Bug experts say it doesn't look like there will be any big cicada outbreak this summer. But University of Maryland Entomology professor Michael Raupphe tells USA Today we could see a small group of stragglers in parts of the south from Brood XXII, which emerges every 13 years. He expects those bugs to be above ground in Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky and Ohio.

Raupphe says “People that love cicadas this year, they're simply going to be mildly disappointed. The flip side of that is the cicada-phobes, people that don't really like cicadas so much, are going to be celebrating.”

Last year and in 2024 there were swarms of Cicadas in Louisiana during the spring and summer. If we do see some of these noisy, pesky bugs, what can we do with them. You can bet someone in Louisiana will try to cook them up.

READ MORE: How Deadliest Creature on Earth Impacts Louisiana

Can You Eat Cicadas?

The answer is yes. These bugs are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. They don't need too much prep work, either. All you have to do is pan fry them, parboil them or toast them in the oven. But you can get even more creative and make some special dishes. You could try putting them in gumbo, tacos, pizza or even etouffee. But some just eat them stir fried over rice.

The Food Network says cicadas are crunchy and you might not like how they look in one of your favorite dishes.

You also have to clean them properly. They can carry pathogenic microorganisms on them. You should treat them like chicken when handling them in the kitchen says Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND, a nutrition consultant for Food Network. “First, purchase them from a reputable vendor.” She does not advise you to try to catch them yourself. She adds: “As with any raw food, they're more hazardous to eat raw versus cooked. Cooking can destroy pathogenic microorganisms.”

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What Do Cicadas Taste Like?

Do you really want to know this? I know I don't. But some people who have tried them says they have a nutty flavor and shrimp-like quality. You can cook them like you would cook any other seafood. You can sauté them or deep fry them. Use olive oil and your favorite seasonings.