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The last remaining members of the Brood XIII Periodic Cicadas in Northern Illinois were scurrying around the bases of the old growth trees in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin today. It will be 17 years before we see their kind again. |
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Individually, they're charming |
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Prehistoric, even |
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Having only a few weeks of life above ground, after 17 years of growing below, they seemed naive and ignorant to the dangers surrounding them. |
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They watched me like I was the curiosity |
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And flitted their wings against the grass |
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Some had bright red eyes, others had a paler yellow-orange colored eyes, but the rarest is the pale blue eye coloration, which I did not see. |
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Discarded exoskeletons are everywhere |
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They climb up tree trunks, then fly down to the grass and repeat |
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They look a little intimidating, but they're harmless |
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Strangely beautiful |
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Their eyes made from tiny grape tomatoes |
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Their wings made from cellophane |
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Helloooooo, cicada friend! |
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Welcome to the earth's surface! |
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I hope you had fun while you were up here. I will see your kin in 17 years. Goodbye, cicada friends! |
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Despite the hype about the plague of Magicicadas that were predicted for most of Northern Illinois this year, very few regions were bombarded with the insects. They live in forested areas and at the bases of old growth trees, so most of Illinois is too prairie-like to suit their needs. Also, too much land development has killed many of them. However, in areas where they are abundant, they are REALLY ABUNDANT! The last of the cicadas are dying out now, having mated and layed eggs to start the 17-year cycle again. We'll see the next emergence in Chicago in 2024. |
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