Three
cicadas crawled out of the ground and up the skirting on my deck.
There
they changed from underground living to a life of flight. Living most of their lives underground from
birth, I could only imagine what a thrill it would be to burst out of their old
skin and newly formed wings, fly away to sing their distinctive song and of
course mate and lay eggs for another cycle.
Cicada (I have always called them locust but a true locust is a flying
grass-hopper), depending on their species have varying life spans. Some only live a short period, most of it
under ground. The average is about five
years but I am sure you have heard of the seventeen year locust. These long and varying life spans insure
their continued existence. Here is a picture
of all three of them:
I
know that they live off the sap of trees and bushes, but they are a unique
species and I always enjoy seeing their old exoskeletons (I would think that is
what they are called) and these three came out of the ground near my deck. I only heard them one time, but in the high
humidity and high heat, I don’t spend a whole lot of time outside working. I am one of the spoiled people that Sixbears
was talking about the other day, especially when it comes to air
conditioning. Maybe I am just getting
old. Anyway, have any of you had any
cicada show up around your place so far this summer? You all have a great day now and try to stay
cool, you hear?
Good photos. I hear that during a big hatch they can get really loud. If they don't bite me, I'll happy to leave most bugs alone.
ReplyDeleteThese bugs can't hurt you, they just suck sap. Now, I know a few saps that they could feast on (grin).
ReplyDeleteMy AC won't work outside,,,so, haven't heard a one. Nor seen any shells.
ReplyDeleteI remember as a kid, we used to have contest to see who could find the most skeletons on the trees!
ReplyDeleteI well remember the singing of these critters during the summer. They could be pretty loud sometimes! Been a while since I've heard any, though.
Toruble, it is quite humid and we are expecting more rain.
ReplyDeleteGood day to stay in the AC.
HJ, They do seem to be more rare the past few years. When I was a kid, they sang all day long.
BTW, just for your information, today's post is number 700. I can't believe I have written that many or that I have lasted that long. . .
Dizzy we have a bunch of those around Austin. I'm sitting here listening to them sing now.
ReplyDeleteJim, do you sing harmony with them or do you just accompany them on the guitar?
ReplyDeleteDiz-
ReplyDeleteI remember them very well from childhood - as Bubba said, we used to count how many we'd find. But the sound of the locust (we called them that, too - maybe it's a Texas thang) is something not to be forgotten. Just the word locust or cicada brings that particular sound to mind. And I think you're right - we seem to hear more when it's really hot, and most of us are of an inside age now....grin.
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