I took this little guy's photograph around 3 o'clock in the morning on May 22, 2007. He (or maybe she) is one
of the Brood XIII seventeen-year periodical cicadas who are turning up right on schedule just south of Lake
Michigan. They last paid this particular maple tree a visit during May 1990. The one above is presently sharing
the tree trunk with several dozen friends.
I'm not sure what to expect over the next few days. In 1990 my yard
was completely overrun. Where conditions are right it isn't uncommon to find populations of several millions
per acre. That's an interesting proposition, when you consider that they hang around for several weeks
and like to sing. Loudly. An individual cicada can put out between 90 and 100 decibels. (You can hear what they - the Genus Magicicada - sound like here. And this is another link to listen.)
Below: a cicada breaking out of its shell.
Below: nearly free of the shell, wings begin to unfold.
Below: Cicada with new wings fully unfolded - I'm out!
Below: Soon the newly emerged cicada has darkened, displaying adult coloration.
