video: a day in the life of a cicada

Here’s a quick look into the life of a Cicada. It’s actually a video I created that is only about a minute long. Did you know… not only do cicadas make a lot of noise, the bugs are on a mission when they emerge!

No bugs were killed during filming; my turtle ate a bug that fell on the ground and was it already dead. Note: Annual green cicadas are out now, but the orange cicada featured in this video is from the Brood X.

Check out my super short video on the Cicada.

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video: attacked by cicadas while fishing (just kidding)

While canoe fishing at a new lake, I encounter the Brood X Cicadas! Some people are afraid of these creepy little critters, but they are actually harmless and friendly! Let’s take a closeup look at the amazing bugs that only appear every 17 years, and then go fishing!

Check out my video and enjoy!

illustration: cicada

Where were you 17 years ago? Well, that is the last time the Brood X bugs were around, making ruckus in the trees. The Cicadas are here! Don’t be afraid. They may look creepy. One may smack you in the head by mistake, when flying clumsily, but they are harmless. They are simply out to look for a mate.

These red-eyed Cicadas are only in certain states on the East coast and the Midwest. So get out there and check them out because you’ll have to wait another 17 years to see them again.

Here’s a drawing I did of one critter, hanging out high in the canopy. Can you hear it buzzing away?

Happy Memorial Weekend all!

illustration: cicada

It is mid-summer and the sounds of cicadas fill our days in suburbia. The presence of cicadas actually soothes me, reminding me of many fun summers.

Here are some facts about cicadas in a nutshell:

Cicada nymphs burrow underground for the majority of their lives. Later in life, they emerge from holes in the dirt, climb up trees and molt their skin to grow into adults with wings.

From their abdomens, the males produce a distinct song in hopes of finding a mate. The males cling from high in the trees, resonating as far as the sound can reach.

Not long after mating, cicadas die, but before that, the females lay their eggs in branches. Eventually, the eggs drop to the ground. Nymphs hatch and dig down into the dirt to live in tunnels. The nymphs eat roots while adults eat sap from trees like Oak, Maple and Willow. Depending on the brood, the lifespan of cicadas is 2 to 17 years.

Did the 17-year Magicicada brood visit you this year?

painting: cicada

On the same theme as my last post, here is another creepy crawler insect, the cicada. With July approaching, summertime is when we hear the droning of these critters in the trees. That is because cicadas are eagerly seeking for a mate, after having spent 17 years underground. They may be big in size and overwhelming in numbers, but don’t worry. Cicadas are harmless.