A Cicada Couple Make a Visit

5/31/21

This photo was taken on May 26 at 11:43 AM.

 

The location was on my back porch in Beltsville, MD.

 

The "Take It!" was an easy decision as these insects are just getting started on their once in 17 year rotational visit.  It is an amazing phenomenon as they remain underground feeding off of the roots of trees for that long between appearances.

 

This is early on in their visit - as in a few days they will fill the sky - and - the air will also be full of the weird raspy hum they produce as they go about their mating ritual.

 

Why these two happened to land on my back porch and be facing each other - is one of those " who knows " things but it was the first time I had ever seen such a positioning after having witnessed two other such mass outings since moving to this part of the country.

 

For those who are seeing this for the first time - it is truly amazing.

 

Fortunately they are full from having been eating all those years while underground - so do not form a blight and eat all the vegetation like swarming locust do in other parts of the world.

 

Nature has its marvels - and this is one of them.

 

I have never heard of anyone describing this as being a tourist attraction - as it is sort of icky - lol

 

This soon enough will be over - and it will be another 17 years before we see them again.

 

Here is hoping Spring has been a joy wherever you are.

 

All my best.

 

Bruce

 

PS:  While this is happening - it is not the best of times for motorcycle riders - nor is it the time for top down convertible drives.

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Comments: 7
  • #1

    Jim (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:41)

    Holy crap I had no clue cicada's take 17 years to mature. My wife often gives our daughter these short llessons whenever she learns something new. This time I was right there sitting next to the kid learning about these bugs.

  • #2

    Sally (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:43)

    Oh thank you so much for sharing this picture, it was the perfect coincidence. My daughter asked me today what a cicada is and I was planning on showing her when we got home. I sat down to pull up a picture and just happened to check your site first. Happy accident!

  • #3

    SF1967 (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:45)

    I went camping once as a kid and I remember these things vividly. They were like a white noise machine. Talk about a great night sleep.

  • #4

    xXRodriguezXx (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:46)

    Ewww, bugs gross me out so much! I hope you used your cameras zoom and didnt actually get that close lol.

  • #5

    Gabe (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:48)

    Do they kill the trees? 17 years is a long time to be munching on some tree roots.

  • #6

    MHampy (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:50)

    These things have been in the news lately.

  • #7

    GpaJake (Thursday, 10 June 2021 03:54)

    I was just visiting my son and his family in Tennessee. They are there too. We had to wash our car about four times in the two weeks we were there.