Mar 19, 2016 3 min read

There will be a familiar buzz in the air this spring as Brood V cicadas – also known as 17-year locusts – emerge from a 17-year hiatus to mate, lay eggs and then die.

The brood last came out in 1999 and it causes no harm – other than the annoyance of the high-pitched buzz of their mating call, which is accomlished by the beating of their wings.

In fact, the cicadas, which look like large, red-eyed flies, are actually quite beneficial to wildlife.

Contrary to what some believe, they don’t bite or sting. And they provide an easy source of protein for many animals and birds.

Cicadas can be attracted by the sounds made by lawn mowers and power tools.

They typically emerge from the ground when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees about 8 inches down. We haven’t quite gotten there yet, but we’re getting close.

A nice, warm rain would help, as well, since it will help soften the soil the larvae through which they need to crawl.

• With Jim Mounts and Tom Morley both shooting 300, Frazier-Simplex put on a dominating performance last week to beat Dormont-Mt. Lebanon, 1,493-1,474, and force a tie atop the Pittsburgh and Suburban Rifle League standings.

Frazier’s score tied the league record.

Both teams are now 13-2 and will have a shoot-off this Wednesday at Frazier-Simplex for the league title.

In the match against Dormont-Mt. Lebanon, Mounts’ 300 was his first since the 1992-93 season, while Morley’s was the first of his career.

Zach Nicolella and John Husk both shot 298, while Zac Szabo fired a 297.

Amy Smith led the way for Dormont-Mt. Lebanon with a 299, while Dean Trew had a 298, Matt Piatt a 295 and Dan Francis and Rick Janoski 291 each.

The shoot-off on Wednesday should be interesting, to say the least. Both teams have multiple shooters capable of firing a 300 on any given night. And both local teams also have great depth.

• The Pennsylvania Game Commission released its 2014-15 deer harvest numbers last week, which showed an increase in the deer harvest of 4 percent overall.

The buck harvest, however, was estimated to have an increase of 15 percent, from 119,260 in 2013-14 to 137,580 this season.

A big reason for that was poor weather on the opening week of the season two years ago.

In Wildlife Management Unit 2-A, which includes all of Greene and most of Washington counties, the incease was even greater, with an estimated 6,500 buck – up from 5,100 – and 10,500 doe – up from 9,600 – killed.

WMU 2-B, which includes northeastern Washington and western Westmoreland counties, also saw a large increase, with 5,200 buck and 15,000 doe killed. Those numbers were 4,300 and 13,000 the previous season.

Outdoors editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.