The Cicadas hit us hard us hard this year in Indiana. They are a very interesting bug. First came the casings. I started spotting these early this year. We usually don't see them as early as June, but our trees were full of them. Small skeleton shells, much like a skin from a snake. They cling to the trees like little empty clips.
Next come the songs... Now, if you have never heard Cicada's humming it could frighten you. I actually find it soothing, even beautiful. I don't understand how they do it. how they synchronize and are in harmony. Very cool. I read that the way they make the sound is nothing like a Cricket. Rather,
They are beautiful, in a creepy sort of way. I would guess most are about 1-2 inches long, but can be longer. Look much like a mutant horse fly. LOL. They are not fast like horse & house flies, rather slow. They have three eyes small eyes between the two large eyes on top of their heads (I betcha didn't know that!). The also "sweat" to cool themselves down and lower their temperature. They stay out of sight, I suppose at the tops of my trees.I know they are here, I certainly can hear them! Unlike crickets, they make their sound from noise makers on their sides that form membranes that tighten & relax their muscles causing the sounds. Sorry~ didn't mean to get all Mr Scientist. I just find it bizarre.
Sometimes they kind of freak me out when it is very late, and I am out with the dogs. It's dark, and very quite...except for them. They will slowly start up, and get louder & louder, as if approaching, then SILENCE.
Then again, I get creeped out easily as I am such a frady cat!
One of the strange facts about them that intrigue me is their lifespan. They can live 13-17 years!
