Every seventeen years the Washington, DC area gets treated to (or annoyed by) a brief visit by a new batch of cicadas. Hmmmmm. Maybe Congress should "go forth and do likewise." They do bug us a lot more often, no? But I digress....

My first four photos of these critters were taken outside my home on the morning of May 12, 2004 as they were emerging from their shells during the molting stage of this latest invasion. The last two photos, showing a fully mature cicada, were taken on June 6 in the gardens of the Franciscan Monastery in DC. (Apparently cicadas are very ecumenically-minded bugs.)

Naturally, we here in the National Capitol Area are quite prepared for the onslaught: Following the Fed's recommendations vis terrorist attacks and hurricanes over the past two years, we are all stocked up on duct tape, plastic sheeting, and bottled water.

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