Comments

• ttfishing, it is quite feasible those cicadas made their way through the plastic. Normally I would have expected they would dig their way through the plastic before they shed their shells. This is because whilst they are still in the shell their front legs are strong and well equipped for the large amount of digging they need to reach the surface. They can for example dig through deposits of bark as well as pathways with tighly packed gravel. If you want a bright side to this they are in fact leaving holes that assist your soil drainage, soaking and aerating. Something worms do but cicadas achieve on a bigger scale.
• I have yet to see one of these in Victoria. They are apparently harmless to people, unless you go out of your way to disturb them. Their nests can be found in lawns and at times almost take over some areas. Their abdomen carries the same stripes as the far more aggressive and invasive European wasp.
• There's not really any way of stopping the noise of cicadas. Cold weather will certainly give you a break from their sound. For those who have raised their noise as something they dislike, I encourage you to see it as what announces the warmer weather and is just an aspect of the changing seasons and the habitat we share with many insects. They in fact assist the environment as well, their holes in the ground for instance promote root growth and improved water soaking for trees.
• Kyshulman, it is unlikely what you are hearing are cicadas. Before fully maturing and leaving their shells they are unable to make sound. What you are probably hearing are crickets. They will typically go quiet when you are stamping the ground near to them. Chances are you will see them emerging from the ground in large numbers as they reach the end of their season. Cheers,Peter