Cicadas Jul23 '06

I was out for my typical morning walk today, and all of a sudden, I noticed that peculiar, sharp buzzing sound - the sound of cicadas rubbing their wings together. Although this sound can be heard almost every day in the summer, here in Chicago (especially areas with lots of trees) - it was observantly louder than usual. Closer. In fact, it seemed all the trees around me had that sound coming directly from them.

Looking up, I wondered if any of those ugly-looking bugs would fall directly on my head.

No need. They were already surrounding my feet, and I hardly knew it.

Without realizing it, I managed to accidently "kick" one, while walking, and this little guy didn’t like that at all. Immediately, it started "flailing about," rubbing it’s wings together, creating that loud buzzing sound, and I thought I’d almost have a heart attack.

It swooped up near my body, but managed to fall immediately back to the ground.

This sucker was big.

The sight of me on that sidewalk was worthy of America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Yes, I hate bugs. Not the little ones. I can handle those. Big bugs, like cicadas. Loud bugs, like cicadas. Ugly bugs, like cicadas.

After I kicked the cicada, I started to get paranoid. Continuing on my walk, I started noticing more and more cicadas on the sidewalk - and I’m not just talking empty cicada shells (because there was plenty of those) - I’m talking live, big, and poised cicadas.

Their appearance is almost that of camouflage. They really blend in well with the grass, but on the sidewalk, they’re very noticeable.

I almost kicked another one. And then another one starting "flailing about" for no apparent reason. Sticks from trees starting looking like cicadas. I started to become scared of my own shadow.

"I’ve had enough," I thought. I began walking in the street. It was early enough, and there wasn’t many cars out. I still managed to notice many in the street.

Making it home brought on a huge sigh of relief.

17 years

Fable taught me that cicadas come out every 17 years. Why this is... I don’t know for sure. I think it’s because it takes that long for them to fully "grow," and then they come out, do their thing, and die.

I also don’t know when is the next year they will be out.

Judging by my walk this morning, it’s now.

I also heard that when they do come out, it will be like it’s raining cicadas. As soon as you walk out of the house, they will drop on your head, cling to your body, and otherwise leech onto everything possible.

This is a terrible thought, indeed. I am not looking forward to that.

Categories: Offbeat , Outdoors

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You made me curious, because I’m pretty sure I hear cicadas every year in the late summer, so I went and checked out the ... Read more.

Very interesting... I always thought the noise came from their wings rubbing together. Weird little creatures. I’ve read that cicadas ... Read more.

Well, I grew up in Champaign, IL, so much of my memories of cicadas are from then. My little brother called them "wasper bugs" because of th ... Read more.

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