Cicadas...up until I moved to Tennessee, this insect was something often mentioned in romance novels. For example:
The sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving James and Cathy sitting in semi-darkness on the front porch. An air of awkwardness hung between them, neither knowing what to say. Cicada's crooned in the background, calling out to a willing mate.
Well brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you that the crooning around here today is horrific. The trees everywhere are filled with these nasty looking insects that possess not even a hint of romance when you have one land on you.
Recent rain stirred them from their perches and they fly about in swarms looking for a place to land. Woe be you if you stop long enough.
These insects return from the ground every thirteen years to mate. Although considered harmless, they are a nuisance if you like the outdoors. Cicadas live on tree roots underground for all those years and then in an immature form, climb up the tree where they attach themselves in shells from which they will morph into the beautiful bug shown above.
My son's lawn looks as if it's been aerated. So many holes explain the deafening sound you hear when you go outside. If you want to get an idea of the constant drone
click here. Just magnify the noise ten times.
Some of these suckers get huge and are so big they merely bounce off the windshield of your car. I passed through a swarm today and it sounded like someone was pelting me with stones. Oh, sweet romance...no more shall I think of love when I hear a cicada.
