Singing Cicadas

The other day, I was sitting in the back yard listening to the cicadas singing in the trees, and it reminded me of summers on the San Marcos River. When I was a child, my dad would take us to the river when ever he had a day off on the weekend. My sisters and I would fish, splash around in the water, my dad would grill something for lunch, and my mom would worry about us going out too deep. I know it's hot right now, but is it really hotter than it used to be? I was hot then also. Or is it just that we are getting older? I think with all the stress of everyday life, work, raising a family, we want to just relax on our off time, but the heat makes it uncomfortable. I think my comfort level is more sensitive than when I was a kid.

Speaking of cicadas, I unearthed a cicada nymph while digging a hole for my dog poop composter. I had never seen a cicada nymph before. I've seen many exoskeletons on tree trunks, fence, or plants, but not one still underground. Cicadas live underground for two or more years feeding on tree, and grass roots before emerging as winged adults in May or June. Nymphs may stay in the ground as long as 17 years. Adults feed on tree sap, but don't pose any real threat. The singing you hear are the males trying to attract females for mating purposes. Females lay their eggs in tree twigs, and after several weeks a small nymph will hatch, drop to the ground, burrow in the soil, and start the whole cycle again. Many animals prey on cicadas from birds, snakes, frogs, to insects. I have even seen a cat capture, and eat a cicada. The most interesting predator is the Cicada Killer. They are large, solitary wasps that hunt cicadas to provide food for their young. Cicada Killers sting cicadas, paralyzing them. Then they drag them to their burrow in the ground, lay an egg on it's body, and seals the burrow. The egg will hatch and the larvae will feed on the cicada, then will overwinter in the soil before emerging as an adult the next summer.

Sitting there that afternoon, I imagined myself sitting in a lawn chair, my feet in the cool flowing water, cold beer in my hand, and the smell of the river in the air. I love that smell. Enjoy your summer, and may the singing of the cicadas take you to some relaxing place.