The Cicadas Are Back! The Cicadas Are Back!

That's what I excitedly yelled to my four year old as we went on our daily walk the other day.

Every 17 years we are greeted by the vibrating drum-like abdominal sounds of multiple male cicadas.

For the past two months (July, and August), one barely had to step outside before they were greeted with the sounds of crunching, abandoned molted shells of this unique creature.

Being the mother to a very curious toddler, I am often presented with a barrage of questions concerning just about everything under the sun. And since I'm mommy, I must know everything - Right?

This time I was going to be prepared. I decided ahead of time then, to prepare a small bag of arsenal filled with the basic cicada facts. While doing some research, I came across some very interesting tidbits about our noisy little friends.

Did you know that....

1.) There are over 2,500 species of cicada world wide.

2.) Cicadas do not bite or sting, they do however wreak havoc on several cultivated crops.

3.) Most cicadas have a 13 to 17 year cycle.

4.) Cicada larvae live underground for four years, than emerge to become adult cicadas.

5.) The ancient Chinese used cicadas as a symbol of rebirth.

6.) The female cicada is silent (which led one ancient Greek wag [or joker, humours person] to write: "Happy are cicadas lives, for they all have silent wives."

7.) In Singapore, cicada larvae are used to fight gas, cold sores, and measles.

8.) In China, certain herbal prescriptions contains the shells of cicada molts.

9.) A large group of mating cicadas, can create a sound that is louder than a pneumatic drill.

Cicadas are truly fascinating creatures. I'm just glad I got a chance to share this unique experience with my daughter. I look forward to the next cicada sighting!