Friday, May 14, 2004, 7:22am EDT: This is the first cicada we have seen here in our neighbourhood, in eastern Cincinnati, Ohio. This young one was found beneath the tree just outside our front door. Bunnicula let it crawl up his arm for photography purposes, then placed it carefully back down at the base of the tree, heading in the right direction. It's doubtful this one will survive being eaten by a bird or squirrel. When the cicadas come out en masse, they will overwhelm and have much better chances.

These are the periodical cicadas, that come out only once every 17 years. This is Brood X, the largest in the U.S.A.!

Friday, May 14, 2004, 2:39pm EDT: This is the shell of what is almost certainly the same cicada as above. It was the only shell on the tree this afternoon. Bunnicula brought it in to keep; so this is it, resting on top of a notebook on our kitchen (eek?!) counter. At least this cicada didn't meet an immediate bad fate.

Saturday, May 15, 2004, 2:44pm EDT: It had rained most of the night and all today. These photos were taken in the rain this afternoon, out in front of our apartment house. This is how the cicadas come out of their shells!