The sound of insect love songs is filling the air in central and eastern Arkansas as Brood XXIII, one of the 13-year cycle of cicadas, emerges from the ground for its short, post-dirt life looking to make another brood that will emerge in 2028.
The ground around the office was littered with holes from whence the cicadas emerged.
Shell of its former self — what’s shed after the cicadas emerge.
Your photo reminded me of a day when we had first moved to another state. I sat on my new front lawn, reading a book and enjoying the sunshine, when I noticed a small tumult in the grass alongside me. Lots of motion, then slowly, to my fascination, an insect emerged. I had never seen the like of it before, with its red eyes and irridescent turquoise body. The creature, looking like a peacock of a fly to me, dried out its wings and in a few minutes flew away.
It was amazing, that little cicada. A wonder of nature!
How very cool! I’d never seen one emerge. That must’ve been spectacular.
Yeah, it was pretty amazing. I thought at the time that it was a giant rainbow-colored fly.
🙂