Cicada - Fresh Outta the Shell

So, I found another cicada last night wandering through the grass. He was going slow and trying to get to higher grounds. I decided to help him out before the dogs caught wind of him. I didn't want another midnight snack incident. Above is the cicada settled and ready to start coming out of it's shell. On the sides of his body you can see where his wings are rolled up and formed, waiting to come out. 

Despite my efforts the keep the cicada from any dog danger in it's journey to become something new, the little guy fell backwards out of his shell once he had emerged and onto the ground....right where the dogs were standing. I managed to grab a stick and the cicada grabbed on quickly. It knew those dogs were after it. He's heard the crunching before. This photo was taken right after the bug fell out and brought back to safety. It's wings are still fairly curled up from being stuffed in its previous form. Below you can see more of the wings.

The cicada didn't want to stay on the bucket I had placed him so I ended up putting him back where he was to begin with. Here you can see that his wings have dried out a little more and are trying to spread. I thought it was quite amazing to watch. I had always wondered where the wings were hidden, but never took enough interest to look it up. Below you can see the wings beginning to form better. Eventually this little guy will look just like the one I photographed a few nights ago. Now I have witnessed the whole process myself and I must say, I do enjoy the little things in life. :)

The Dog Ate My Homework...

Guilty! This is Tommy. I have been watching him and his brother this past week while their parents are away on vacation. Last night during the last potty break before bed I took my camera out as usual (you never know what you may find out in the middle of the night/early morning). I sat there while the boys ran around doing their business, sniffing out late night creatures and playing in the dirt. I stretched, got up from the porch steps and decided to sniff around myself. This was how I found the cicada I photographed a few nights before. I knew I'd find something...and I did. There was another large cicada quietly hiding on a nearby piece of wood. I knew I already had a photo of a cicada, but I can't help my fascination with nature and this one was a different color. I sleepily prepared to take a few shots. I squatted down near the subject, turned my camera on and made sure my exposure was set correctly. Ok, ready! And just as I am about to take the photo, this guy photographed above trots over and CHOMP! He grabbed my subject and playfully jumped in a semicircle to face me. He sneezed, startled, and spit out the bug. The cicada wiggled in the grass and I gained a second hope of photographing it. Tommy was just moving my subject to the grass. How helpful! Then Tommy took notice of the cicada's movement in the grass. He hopped from side to side quickly and mischievously, and snatched the cicada again. I hoped he would spit the bug out again, but before I could even finish hoping I heard a very loud Crunch! Crunch! CRUNCH! And my photo subject quickly turned into a late night snack. Photographed above is the shot I got after Tommy's snack. Needless to say, I didn't get to shoot the cicada. Little bugger!

Cicada

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