This morning I awoke to the eerie trill of a cicada hatch. For those unacquainted with these particular cicadas, they very loosely resemble a giant housefly with bright red eyes, about an inch long, ranging in color from black to an orangish-brown, as they are this year. They live as grubs, underground, for either thirteen or seventeen years, then climb into the trees by the thousands, molt into the flying stage, and desperately seek to tear one off before they die or become lunch–even squirrels will eat them, as I noticed this morning. The males make a high trilling noise which in concert is non-directional and very strange sounding. They are completely harmless, although I had a friend wreck his GTO because one disintegrated on his side-view mirror and splattered his face with bug guts. Their only form of defense appears to be vast numbers.
Although they emerge only once every thirteen or seventeen years, there are a number of “broods” that are staggered some years apart. I’d like to find out which particular brood this one is, and whether it is the thirteen or seventeen year variety. Also, have entomologists decided whether the different broods are of the same species, or are they different? I live in Arlington, VA, just across the river from DC.