What's the Buzz?

Cicadas are the soundtrack of late summer days.

August 9, 2024 :: Closeups / Insects

Annual cicadas are emerging. They’re not the 13- or 17-year broods of periodical cicadas that got all the attention last spring. These are called Dog-day cicadas.

That’s because they come out in early August when Sirius, the Dog Star, aligns with the sun. Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the combined light created the heat of summer.

A Dog-day cicada has emerged from it exoskeleton.

This cicada (Neotibicen canicularis) spends only two to five years underground feeding on tree roots. When it burrows out as a nymph, it seeks something to climb. There it begins its transformation. It splits open the back of its exoskeleton and the fully-developed adult climbs out.

It takes a few hours for its wings and body to dry and harden. Its colors darken to green and black, but its wings stay clear. Then it flies higher in the tree to "sing" right away to attract a mate, if it’s a male. Both sexes will feed on sap from small stems for their five-week lifespan in the treetops.

If you find one to photograph, try to get the camera or phone parallel to the cicada’s body. This can help you get sharpness end to end. And watch the background. Make it something that complements – not competes with – the subject.

Then slowly work your way closer, making images as you go. Your patience may pay off with a pleasing close up or two.

Learn about my best steps for making good insect close ups here.

MENU Home :: Galleries :: Workshops & Tours :: Journal :: What's New? :: About/Contact