Friday, May 13, 2016

They're Back!

MacArthur told the people in the Philippines, "I shall return."

Arnold, in The Terminator, said, "I'll be back."

And my pretty yellow iris's are back.



Seventeen years ago the cicadas were here and, as they promised, they are back.


These red-eyed creatures with their shrill song and long wings have taken over the land.

here are two emerging from their shell

 empty shells underneath our Catawba tree leaves

 on our neighbor's house

A couple of evenings ago when I was walking I heard them singing.

Now I will not be the only one with ringing in my ears. Everyone will hear the song of the cicada.

Oh the noise - the beautiful noise emerging in the quiet countryside.

I did a little research.

As billions of insects emerge, they can reach a density of 1.5 million cicadas an acre in some areas. They live above ground for four to six weeks. All they are interested in is screaming, singing, seeking out a mate and laying eggs in slits of small branches of trees. Females can lay up to 400 eggs each. In about six weeks the nymphs emerge, fall from the trees and burrow anywhere from six to eighteen inches into the ground where they feed for the next thirteen to seventeen years.Then . . . they'll be back.

Are they out in your area, too?





 

10 comments:

  1. Found my first empty shell a couple days ago.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have not seen or Heard a thing from them at all. I am also in West Virginia (Kenova). It would not make me to sad if they stayed with you just north of us! Your irises are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kim. It's weird. Some of my neighbors haven't seen any yet, too. But the yard of one of my neighbors is covered with them. They are not singing yet, but I am sure it won't be long.

      Delete
  3. We had our population explosion a few years ago. Music to some ears...not mine. Your yellow irises are gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Linda. Thank you. A friend gave me a start of the yellow iris's a few years ago.

      Delete
  4. The iris is a beautiful color! I love yellow flowers in my beds. These insects are not in our area until summer when it's hotter. Today is too cool for anything, almost. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Charlotte. It is very cool here, too. They say we might get a freeze in the morning. I sure hope not.

      Delete
  5. No cicadas here, Janet. I've waited decades, too! :-) Your yellow irises are stunning. I have wild yellow and purple ones that grow by the pond. Much smaller than your beauties.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Clara. I bet yours are just as pretty, though. All iris's are pretty! The cicadas are due in parts of Pa. this year.

      Delete

Thank you for stopping by. I love comments! Leave one and brighten my day. If you are signing as Anonymous, please sign your name, so I will know who you are.