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| Hemiptera: Cicadidae |
One of the most noticable things about the suburbs in New Zealand is the constant chirping of cicadas. If you wanna hear the cute critters click
here. These freaky little beasts sing away all day out here. I quite like it, but if you didn't the constant sound could very well drive a man (or woman) insane. Anyway, apparently New Zealand's cicadas can be key indicators of species richness hotspots and areas with unique animal and plant life, so there you go. These things spend between 3 and 5 years underground then eventually they dig themselves out of the ground, climb up a tree trunk or something and then they split their back open and shed their skin.
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| Cicada with a broken back |
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| Laid back shell, enjoying the sun |
They then pump their wings out...
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| One chilled out dude |
...and fly off.
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| Fly my pretty, fly! |
The inconsiderate little weirdiods then leave the old skin just hanging around the joint.
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| Empty insects |
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| Sawdust covered abandoned abdomen |
Sadly, as adults they only live for two to four weeks. During this time they mate and the females lay their eggs. :(
Anyhoo, lesson over. To finish this posting off lets induldge in some 17th century Japanese poetry, as you do!
A Cicada Shell
A cicada shell;
it sang itself
utterly away.
Matsuo Basho
1644 - 1694
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