13-Year Cicada ~ Camera-Critters #164

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Quoted from the Missouri Department of Conservation:

"It says by early May, the 13-year cicadas will emerge from hibernation much earlier than their "dog-day" cicada counterparts that typically arrive in late summer.

The department says the periodical cicadas spend 13 years in the ground feeding on sap from tree roots before emerging en masse.

The 13-year cicada is much smaller, but noticeably louder. They'll gather in trees over a single acre chanting their mating calls.

They have dark bodies and reddish eyes."

Hmmm, that sounds pretty cool.
Red eyes, huh?
Wonder if they'll really show up, and
what they'll look like...
hmmmmmm.....

(c) Misty DawnS

"The last time the Show-Me State saw the 13-year cicadas was in 1998 -- a particularly large brood.

This go-round, they're expected to cover most of the state. The department says the Bootheel and parts of northwest Missouri will escape them.

The noise will likely be gone by June."

Hmmmmm...
haven't really heard any noise, and it's almost June, BUT
these red eyes??? Ya think??? hehehehe

(c) Misty DawnS

These photos were taken of a visitor who was hanging out on the side of the house, next to my front door. I had gone out to get the mail, and on my way back, I saw this visitor and ran for the camera. Thank you for the photo shoot, my new friend! Hmmmm, they only come around every 13 years... I guess they don't concern themselves with term life insurance then! The 13-year Cicada is part of the genus called Magicicada. Isn't that cool? Get it? "Magic" Cicada... ok, maybe I need more sleep, but I think that is totally cool! They sure are awesome... well, to a bug-lover like me, anyway! I honestly haven't heard the cicadas (of any sort) yet this year, so I consider myself very lucky to get some photos before these critters decide to leave again for another 13 years!!! I'm just in love with those eyes, and this critters was a perfect and willing model! So much fun! (Yes, I know I have issues, and I don't care. So there.)

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