It's complicated. {my relationship with cicadas}

The cicadas have arrived here in middle Tennessee. I say that like they just rolled into town on their little cicada Harley's wearing leather chaps and all.

It does sorta sound like they came in on something with a motor for sure.

I am not real thrilled about this little historic invasion. I can handle finding their little exoskeletons.



Even though they are everywhere.



But when they sound like an army of black hawk choppers waiting to greet my feet wherever I step??

All bets, for handling myself in any sort of civilized manner, are off.

I may or may not humiliate the poor souls that have to claim me.

BUT...

The nerdy homeschoolin' momma within can't help but think they are the coolest things ever.

And can't get to my magnifying glass fast enough.

How exactly do they know how many years have gone by while they were down there sippin' on tree sap and waiting to mate?

(Do cicadas have hormones? Yikes. Can you imagine??? Kinda like 17 years of high school down there)

Sorry...where was I?

Oh yeah...the fact that they are obviously math whizzes is just as extraordinary as their life cycle.

Did you know that the cicada has the longest life cycle of any insect, ranging from 2 to 17 years?

Or that they undergo an incomplete metomorphosis? (No pupal stage)

When the nymph is fully grown and the temperature is just right, it tunnels to the surface and goes through its final molt... the shedding of its hard outer skin.



Then it emerges as a winged adult. When the wings dry and harden, the cicada flies in search of a mate.



Leaving us a little something to remember them by.



How about you? Do they creep you out or do you find them fascinating??

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We have taken the opportunity this week to get to know as much as we can about these fascinating creatures while we have them around.

Maybe you would like to as well so I thought I'd share this superb video I found.





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"