Some of the cousins gathered at the grandparents' place last night. As supper settled, the dog days cicadas began to sing in earnest, perhaps sensing, with the evening's moderating temperature, that their days were numbered. Jay soon spotted this impressive example on the old long leaf pine out front.
When a closer examination revealed a recently abandoned cicada exoskeleton, a still-occupied exoskeleton, and an exoskeleton in the process of being evacuated, we were mesmerized, but not so much that we forgot to capture a few images for Hoot Owl Karma.
We've noticed and occasionally gathered the empty exoskeletons of these annual cicadas all our lives here in the south, but had never thus far had the opportunity to witness the final stages of emergence in their entirety.
Roughly forty minutes elapsed from first image to last, and as the diaphanous wings dry out, hopefully this amazing creature will join the midnight chorus and do its part to put together next summer's band.
