Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Cicadas: A Love Story



As I type this blog post, the hum of the cicadas outside my window is so loud it is impossible to fully block out without some loud music.

Yesterday, Mr. Lifeguard went to Starbucks to get us breakfast and a giant cicada hitched a ride inside the house on his collar. He hung on quietly until Alan was putting the coffees on the counter and then he started buzzing his wings like a helicopter and nearly gave the poor guy a heart attack.

They swarm around you when you walk outside. Your car grill is full of them when you get home. They're loud, and they're gross and they're already over seventeen years old.

 
Check out this video by Samuel Orr that shows their amazing lifespan. He's currently working on a one hour documentary on these little guys, which you can invest in via kickstarter if you like what you see below.
 
 
 
 Have a GREAT Wednesday, and I hope you enjoyed the video!

Kathryn

20 comments:

  1. I've been hearing them non-stop and seeing some dead ones, but knock on wood, that is the extent of it. (I live about 10 minutes west of scrapbooks plus)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I heard from Debbie at Scrapbooks Plus that they aren't nearly as bad your way as they are here. She came to a party in my neck of the woods and said they were so many more of them buzzing around.

      Delete
  2. Between your assorted LARGE insects and Jim's snakes and spiders, I am glad to be living in the northwest. Sure, it rains al lot but.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can handle the large insects, but I am not moving to a place where there are snakes. Ew!

      Delete
  3. Oops! Messed up my comment and had to delete it and try again to say:

    I'm with Laura--I'll take the rain in the Pacific Northwest any day. I don't "do" bugs/snakes/insects of any kind. We have slugs and they, too, are gross. Having a swarm of these around me would drive me to drink more than Starbucks!!! So glad Mr. Lifeguard was able to save the coffee. I rather like the sound, but I suppose it would get irritating after a while when you just want some peace and quiet. What a great video. Thanks for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I. Would. Have. Died.


    after living in Kansas for quite awhile and having dear son do a science project involving bugs and labeling of said bugs in a pretty frame...the cicada's grossed me out the most. To have one on my collar? um..no. And, I don't miss the noise, either! Ewww.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the poor guy was a little traumatized, to be honest. And I'm not talking about the cicada!

      Delete
    2. I can understand that. I don't do bugs on a normal day. To have designer bugs swarm or hitch rides? oh no no no no nooooo.

      Delete
  5. I loved the video and it almost made me like the cicadas. Luckily all it took was a few minutes on the porch and I was cured of that urge ...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wish our mosquitoes lay dormant for 17 years up here in Northern BC to only surface for a few weeks. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wouldn't that be nice? I could get behind a 17 year mosquito life cycle.

      Delete
  7. Wow! Poor Alan. We have yet to see any cicadas here in Ashburn. You would think that we would have them also since we aren't far apart. I'm happy if we don't. My three dogs would have a all you can eat cicadas and I'd be the one trying to get them (or parts) out of their mouths.

    I'm glad Alan discovered the little critter AFTER he put the coffee down. The coffee might have decorated the room. YIKES!

    DebbieT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You guys out in Loudoun are lucky! I heard from Debbie at Scrapbooks Plus that they aren't nearly as bad your way as they are here. She came to a party in my neck of the woods {Prince William} and said they were so many more of them buzzing around.

      Delete
  8. Fascinating video. I really enjoyed. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you liked the video! It *almost* made me appreciate the cicadas ... almost.

      Delete
  9. Great video--thanks for sharing Kathryn. Poor Alan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, the poor guy! Even after he was traumatized, he still carried the cicada outside so he could live - what a softy!

      Delete
  10. I'm also with Laura and Lucy and am happy to take the rain (BC, Canada). I'm ok with a 'few bugs/insects' please no snakes of any kind, including the rubber toy ones or even a picture of them - yuk! I didn't know what you were talking about when I was reading until I watched the video and it is a great video. TFS :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yeah, snakes freak me out! Mostly because I don't know enough about them to know which ones can kill me and which ones are good for the garden.

      Delete