Cicadas in Belleplain

There was a lot of talk about how we’d be inundated with 17-year Cicadas this spring, but so far we haven’t heard or seen a single one in our neighborhood, so I thought they weren’t here yet. Friday I learned they’re out in Belleplain State Forest, not far from us, so today Ellen and I drove over there. As we reached the road near Lake Nummy Campground I began to hear their high chorus, kind of a constant raspy whine with occasional cooing sounds mixed in (or that might have been distant Cuckoos). We got out to look around and soon found plenty of Cicadas flying and perched.

Here’s the shell or case in which the insect spends much of its life underground. When hatching year arrives, they climb out to any handy perch, like this railing, and the adult Cicada pops out of the case, which splits down the back.

This side view illustrates why they make a perfect “bug-eyed monster,” though they do not bite, and are harmless to humans and animals. It’s all about mating for them.

We saw other interesting insects like this Whitetail Dragonfly, and heard quite a few birds…

…and there was pretty Mountain Laurel blooming, but our focus was on the Cicadas. There won’t be another mass hatching like this here for 17 more years, and it’s cool to hear and see them.

They’re really quite striking and impressive close up. I made a short video as well, which you can watch on Vimeo HERE.