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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

They're baaaaaccckk!

As I was mowing the lawn yesterday I noticed some familiar little figures affixed to the bark of the trees-lots of little cicada shells. Within the last few days they have made their way out of the ground and up the trees to shed their crispy shells for a shiny new set of wings. I am not sure why, but I find myself both simultaneously fascinated and repulsed by these creepy insects.
I couldn't find any of the actual cicadas to photograph, just their former homes. Each year when they make their appearance in late summer, it is a sad reminder that summer days are waning away. And if their appearance is not enough of a reminder there is always that deafening, earsplitting RREEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW to remind you.
And, if this is not enough creepy goodness for you, here is a link to an interesting video about the little
cutie pies. Er, Enjoy!

5 comments:

tbsomeday said...

well, what a lovely post :)

thanks for the video link

is it a certain type that comes every 17yrs?
i know a few years back my parents home was literally swarmed by them...you couldn't even hear outside to talk

but...every summer you hear them?
what's the deal?

Unknown said...

Iccckkkkk - but, wait, they are kind of beautiful. All bronze and silver and crystal! I knew the story of the cicadas, but just cannot conceive of a species that's underground for 17 years, only to all come out at the same time, doing the same thing, dressing alike. Kind of like human teenagers....

Nancy in Iowa

Michelle said...

Last summer when we visited Missouri the cicadas were deafening. Boy, am I glad we don't have them here!

Christine said...

No! Not yet! I'm not ready for them.

I have a funny story...my MIL was here visiting from Newfoundland one year when they were particularly bad. Three days after her arrival she finally asked "Why are the trees making so much noise?" She's terrified of every bug and animal alive so I didn't have the heart to tell her or show her what it really was. I knew she wouldn't have slept the rest of her trip. LOL

Jenny Holden said...

In for a noisy time then?! Reminds me of Peru :o)

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