A few experts, known in the bug world as entomologists, have some theories on their no-show status in the area.

"They have to be in undisturbed soil for 17 years,'' said Kevin Carlin, forest pest suppression supervisor in the Middletown office of the U.S. Bureau of Forestry.

"Farming doesn't promote the survival of cicadas,'' said Carlin, "nor does development.'' And that theory would tend to make broad swaths of Lancaster County's farmed and developed acreage inhospitable for cicadas.

Evidently, those two activities haven't been all that friendly to the cicadas, which at one point in their life cycle burrow from 2 to 24 inches underground.

That's a perfect depth to be clanked by either a plow or a bulldozer.

Mostly, the cicadas can be found in forested areas that are at least 17 years old.

However, Clyde McMillan-Gamber, a naturalist with the county Parks Department, said he hasn't seen any in the park.

"I'm beginning to think they need vast forest lands,'' he said.

Likewise, checks in the southern and eastern county have turned up virtually no cicada swarms.

So frankly, cicadas, you've turned out to be a bit disappointing after all the hype about your coming here.

And not to put any undue pressure on Brood X, but we HAVE waited 17 years to be annoyed by your buzzing and dive bombing and that sort of thing.

Some people even calculate their age based on how many times they've seen the 17-year cicada brood.

"I can remember these things as a kid,'' said Marshal Kaiser, president of the Safe Harbor Water Power Corp.

"I've seen not two cycles, but three,'' said Kaiser, with a sigh. "That makes me feel old.'' But what Kaiser hasn't seen are the much-awaited cicadas in any of the forested areas around the Safe Harbor Dam.

"I was down in Baltimore Monday and I heard them,'' Kaiser said. "They sound something like "Gzzzzzz' or "Hrrrrrr.' "We live in Smithville and we hear the peepers but no cicadas,'' he said.

Is Kaiser disappointed? "I certainly expected them, and it would be a curiosity, an interesting event,'' Kaiser said. "But it's not like when the President came here or anything. Cicadas are not on my list to check every morning.'' Master gardener Val Albright, who answers gardening questions through the Lancaster County Penn State Cooperative Extension, has only received two calls on cicadas.

Is she hearing from people who have seen swarms of cicadas in the area? "No, no, no, no, no,'' said Albright. "If you're not in a wooded area, you might miss them completely.'' Albright acknowledged that on a recent trip, she heard cicadas buzzing along Interstate 95.

"I'm surprised we didn't have more sightings,'' said Albright as she checked the master gardener call sheet.

"I would just tell people to enjoy them, they are a phenomenon.'' But how do you enjoy a phenomenon that hasn't really developed? "We have some old trees, so I thought it would be fun to see them and they are supposed to be a feast for the animals,'' said Albright. "But I don't really have strong feelings one way or another about them.'' Albright and others did warn that owners of young fruit trees might see some damage as the female cicada likes to slit the bark at the end of a fruit tree branch to deposit hundreds of eggs.

Carlin said people could see some cicadas here along highways, overpasses and railroad tracks where the soil has not been disturbed in a long time.

Would he recommend someone going out of their way to see them? "I think they're enjoyable,'' Carlin said. "It's an insect that generates a lot of commentary and human reaction, actual horror and shock.'' Carlin said cicadas have been sighted in Mount Joy Township.

Cicadas also can be seen at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Center near Brickerville, said Al Keith, who works at the information desk there.

"But people better be quick, they're almost done,'' said Keith.

"There's tons of them here. The woods are just humming with them, but they only live for 10 days,'' he said. "I can point someone in the right direction if they want to see cicadas.'' After this hatch, they will be gone for another 17 years, so Keith said people should see them while they can.

"Sure, I'm excited about them,'' he said. "The only people who wouldn't be excited are those people who own a tree grove that is fruit producing.''