Joe Green sent us this video of a black window spider eating a cicada.
June 28, 2008
June 18, 2008
Close up photos of marble-colored cicada eyes
High-res versions of Roy Troutman‘s marble-eyed cicada photos. Fascinating. You can see a color variation in all 5 eyes!
The 17 year cicada emergence is winding down
Lisa from East End of Louisville, KY let us know that silence has returned to her area. I’m sure the same is true of the southern areas of the emergence.
Don’t forget to get a t-shirt, mug, stein, button or throw pillow to remember the experience.
June 17, 2008
Who ordered the basket of cicadas?
No one did, but this is what Brian Oliva of Milford, Ohio finds in his pool filter every day.
More totally awesome marble-eyed cicada photos
Roy Troutman has obtained another marble-eyed 17 year cicada found by Mike & Reed Finfrock of West Chester, Ohio.
White eyes are unique, maybe one in 100,000, but these marble eyed cicadas seem to be even more rare. They look like the red was torn away, revealing the gray below (like something you would see on a blinged out Honda Civic or an 80’s metal guitar).
June 12, 2008
Amazing cicada with white & orange colored eyes
Here’s something that’s truly amazing — a 17 year cicada with marble-colored eyes. White eyed cicadas are rare — but a mixed color eye cicada is amazing. Roy and the person how found the cicada should go play the lottery tonight, because luck is on their side.
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June 10, 2008
So when will they be gone?
The big question right now is: “when will the cicadas be gone?” Alas, for some, their charm has dwindled.
Based on my experience maintaining this site over the past 12 years, emergences tend to last about 6 or 8 weeks from the emergence of the first adult until the last cicada dies. That timespan is for the entire emergence, covering all locations in every affected state. The emergence for you in your specific location should last around 4 weeks: 1 week to emerge, 2 weeks of singing and mating, 1 week of egg laying and dying. Most cicadas don’t follow that precise game plan, but that’s the basic idea: 4 weeks. Cicadas that emerged on June 1st, should be gone before the 4th of July.
BTW, based on the number of messages and emails I’ve received, Brood XIV appears to be a bigger event than Brood XIII. Brood XIII received more press (because it overlapped Chicago), but from my vantage point, Brood XIV is turning out to be the more exciting emergence.
New Brood XIV Photos from Roy
An adult Magicicada:
A Magicicada suffering from the massospora cicadina fungus:
The fungus is spread during mating.
Another shot of the adult Magicicada:
A Magicicada suffering from the massospora cicadina fungus:
Gene Kritsky collecting a temperature probe for his cicada temperature study from Roy’s backyard:
June 7, 2008
Cicada Mania 2008, so far
Last Saturday I (Dan) drove out to western Ohio with the goal of meeting up with fellow cicada maniac Roy Troutman and his family, and observing the 2008 Brood XIV emergence.
So far in 2008, Roy and I:
- Observed massive emergences in Loveland, Blue Ash, Mariemont and Indian Hill.
- Collected nymphs for a scientific experiment (not sure I can divulge the details).
- Met and had breakfast with cicada expert Gene Kritsky in Mariemont, which was inundated with cicadas.
- Met Samuel Orr, who is best know for his film Return of the 17-Year Cicadas.
- Collected adult Magicicada septendecula for a breeding experiment to be conducted by John Cooley…
- Spent part of the day with John, even stopping by the Circle K for some road food.
Roy has collected 2 white eyed cicadas so far, and I’ve handed out a bunch of Cicada Mania buttons. If you see me and ask for one, and I have some with me, it’s yours.
Today I’m leaving Ohio, and headed across Pennsylvania. I plan on stopping around Middletown, Cornwall and Morgantown, where cicadas have been sighted. Then it’s back to homebase in New Jersey were I’ll try to verify the 1906 records of 17 year cicadas in Red Bank, and well as continue to post updates.