If you look at a map of the hot zones for populations of the 17 year periodic cicada, my house would be smack dab in the center. It seems obligatory to do a photo journal of this amazing natural phenomena.

The cicada life cycle goes something like this. The cicada nypmhs (kinda like larva) attached themselves to tree roots at depth of 12" -18" in the ground. The live in the ground for 17 years, when they emerge in their hard outer shells. The nymphs begin a vertical climb - trees, poles, tall grass, barbecues - where they anchor themselves and begin popping out of their shells.

The cicadas emerge from their shells pale, and soft, and their wings are folded and compressed. As they are exposed to the air, their wings unfold, and their bodies darken and harden. At this mature stage, they begin their nearly incessant singing in search for a mate. They have one purpose at this stage, and it aint eating!

After the male empties his sperm capacity, he keels over and dies. (Yikes). The female injects her 400-600 eggs into the thin end of a branch and keels over and dies. The eggs hatch in 6 - 8 weeks, when they fall to the ground, and begin grubbing on grass roots. They begin their downward descent, attach to a tree root for the next 17 years. Repeat. Amazing!