Cicadas

A few weeks ago, Franklin was invaded by an alien force -- not Civil War re-enactors, but large red-eyed bugs - Cicadas - blech! These bugs emerge in this part of the country as part of what is known as Brood XIX. They live underground for 13 years as white grubs and then emerge, climb onto trees, fences, car tires, anything and hatch out of their skins - leaving brown shells everywhere. Once their new wings dry they begin to fly around and BUZZ. They are large for bugs - about as big as my pinkie. They are everywhere and seem to find their way into our house -- I found one in my sink!

This picture shows how many of them are hanging onto trees and branches all over our yard.

Erin has characteristically taken a shine to them. The bugs do not appear to be very well-designed and often wind up on their backs with their big black legs waving and red eyes bulging. Erin likes to rescue them and we spend about 10 minutes every morning conducting "Cicada Rescue Operations" in the driveway before she is willing to load up and get on our way. Today she pulled two dead ones out of the pool and conducted a funeral.