As peak cicada season dawns upon us, we have some tips to help brave the storm!
Welcome to the MAA Team Emma!
In addition to working at MAA, Emma currently serves as an Intelligence Officer in the New York Air National Guard. Emma also worked as a field organizer in New York’s Second Congressional District for the 2020 election.
Emma is a 2020 graduate of American University, where she studied International Studies with a concentration in U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security.
Emma is from Long Island, New York and now lives in Shaw with her cat, Dumpling. Despite having gone to college in DC, Emma is not sick of the monuments yet, and enjoys going on long walks while listening to audiobooks. Currently listening to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Cicada Prep
Cicada Safari is an app that helps track the cicadas—and help you avoid them! Dr. Gene Kritsky, a professor and cicada expert, created the app. Users can also help contribute to the app and submit photos of cicadas and record their location. Download it in the app store.
Don’t want them landing on you? Check out this stylish yet protective hat.
If you can’t beat em join em
Thanks to Cicada Safari, your kids can have some fun with cicada season!
Make an origami cicada
Cicada coloring page
Cicada Recipes
A guide to cooking cicadas from three Richmond, VA Chefs
The Washingtonian has tips from “Cicada-Licious” author, Jenna Jadin—and try her Old Bay recipe below.
Maryland Cicadas - from Cicada-Licious
Yield: 8 servings
1/2 cup Old Bay seasoning
2 tablespoons salt
4 quarts water
1 (12 fluid ounce) can beer (optional)
8 red potatoes, quartered
2 large sweet onions, cut in wedges
2 pounds lean smoked sausage, cut in 2-inch lengths
8 ears fresh corn, broken in half
4 pounds large cicadas
Directions:
1. In an 8-quart pot, bring Old Bay, salt, water and beer to a boil. Add potatoes and onions; cook over high heat for 8 minutes.
2. Add smoked sausage to potatoes and onions; continue to cook on high for 5 minutes. Add corn to pot; continue to boil for 7 minutes. Add cicadas, cook for 5 minutes.
3. Drain cooking liquid. Pour contents of pot into several large bowls, shallow pails, or mound on a paper-covered picnic table. Sprinkle with additional Old Bay if desired.
Smithsonian Reopening
If you need an indoor escape from the cicada swarm, many of the Smithsonian museums and galleries are reopening this month. In order to maintain public safety, most locations require visitors to book free timed-entry passes. See below for the re-opening timeline.
May 5th, 2021 : National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
May 14th, 2021 : National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and National Portrait Gallery
May 21st, 2021 : National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, and National Zoo
Click here to visit the Smithsonian website and book your free timed-entry pass
