After years underground, the cicadas now emerge, shedding their outer shells and filling the air with their vibrating song. Their empty shells, scattered throughout my garden, are silent reminders of transformation, marking the transition from hidden existence to an open symphony.
Cicadas spend up to 17 years underground, feeding on tree roots. When the conditions are right, they emerge, shed their shells, and begin their brief above-ground life. Male cicadas sing to attract females. After mating, females lay eggs on tree branches, and once hatched, the young cicadas drop to the ground and burrow in for another 13 to 17 years, continuing the cycle.
Quite the patient insects!
“Nature is the source of all true knowledge.”
–Leonardo da Vinci
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