The Cicadas Are Here, The Cicadas Are Here!

For weeks now I have been going crazy waiting for the first cicadas to emerge and yesterday I was finally treated to a few! After 17 years underground, the Periodical cicadas are beginning to emerge not far from us in parts of New Jersey. It's just a few so far, but this little ripple will soon build into a full blown tidal wave of cicada insanity and fun. Yesterday I had heard reports that some were emerging in Westfield so after work (sort of...) I drove over and within minutes saw a few emerging on a big pin oak in someone's front yard. I couldn't stop taking photos until the lovely Westfield Policewoman stopped by and asked what I was doing. I told her I how excited I was about the cicadas but she was neither as excited nor impressed. I told her about my Bug Addiction page and suggested she check it out, at which point she nicely smiled and drove away. Check out Bug Addiction - Confessions of a Bug Addict @https://www.facebook.com/BugAddictionConfessionsOfABugAddict for much more bug fun. 

The photos show the development of the molting larva into a fully sexually mature adult that can fly. The freshly emerged (known as teneral) cicadas are whitish, soft, can't fly yet and are completely defenseless. I think the two black spots on the back of the thorax are probably a defensive mechanism to make it look like it has big eyes. But I'm just guessing...Next to the teneral cicada is it's larval shell it just shed (known as an exuviae) and an older mature adult that has hardened exoskeleton and functioning wings. These cicadas are so incredibly cool! 

I also stopped by Picnic Grove 2A at Roosevelt Park in Ediosn that I featured in the last Blog Post but there was no evidence that any cicadas have emerged there yet. Stay tuned and I will keep everyone informed. And please let the Friends know if you find any cicadas in our area.