Understanding the Invasion

"Cicada Facts: Understanding the Invasion" from National Geographic is a very cool article that gives facts and photos about the billions of bugs that are about to emerge from the ground all around us.

However, it's not really an "invasion" as National Geographic calls it. The periodical (17-year) cicadas laid their eggs 17 years ago. Sixteen years and 51 weeks ago, they hatched. For 17 years the immature cicadas have lived underground, drawing nourishment from tree roots. They have always been here, they never went away, and so in a real sense they are not even returning. (If a human baby was born and raised in the same neighborhood, and at 16 she had a "coming out" party, would you say she is "invading" the neighborhood? No, of course not.)

So, not "welcome back," but "welcome to maturity" would be more correct for the cicadas now crawling out of the ground in Illinois and most of the Midwest. Buy that cicada a beer.

Have fun, little crawlies. You only have 2-6 weeks to find a mate, get busy and lay your eggs. If the birds, squirrels, dogs, cats, and I don't eat you first, that is. According to National Geographic, "Cicadas are said to make good eating because they are low in fat and high in protein. They are considered a delicacy by many people around the world." Yum.