*
High drama in my neighborhood. Lonely cicadas, waiting patiently in the ground for seventeen years are now above ground transforming, dating and dying. HERE * is a link to a beautiful video, for those who are interested in the life cycle of the cicada. Above is a quick watercolor sketch of the amazing dance they perform as they shrug off their shells revealing a smooth white body.
As I type this, my windows are open to a beautiful day. The peculiar drone of thousands of courting cicadas overrides the sounds of traffic, planes, and birds. It’s a wonder to witness.
*Thanks to Terry for the cicada dance reference and Marguerite for the link!
Elenacaravela's Blog 
Ooo…I’m terrified of insects…:/
BUT I did *like* the post 😉
🙂 Thanks:)
Of all the cicadas this is definitely the cutest. Such style!
Thank you Patti;)
Very nice sketch, dear Elena! I would like to see a portrait of cricket at the end! Big hugs, much love, Stefania! 🙂
Thanks Stefania!
Not only is it an amazing dance the cicadas perform, but it’s an amazing watercolour sketch. Beautiful!
Thank you Otto!
Fascinating! 🙂
They are! Thanks:)
Elena that link is absolutely wonderful . I don’t believe that I have ever seen a cicada although certainly have heard them on holidays away . The footage with music is quite something else .
I love your little Cicada here I can now see that he is totally bedside himself with pure joy shrugging off that shell 🙂
What an amazing thing is its life cycle . I can’t quite get my head round it all 😉
I feel the same Poppy. Ah nature:) Thanks so much for your interested and interesting comments!
Aha, you encountered its miracle moment !
—- I miss them.
A little wonderf of nature:)
Lovely painting, Elena! And a fascinating video.
Thanks Richard. Isn’t the video well done? Answers all of my questions about this creature.
You have masterly captured the essence of its liberating dance.
Your watercolours call to my mind the deceptive simplicity of the traditional Chinese painting.
Thanks for the link.
I am honored by your compliment Marcelo. Thank you:)
We have cicadas in Melbourne in summer and I used to love searching for their old shells which you could find attached to tree trunks. I don’t like the sound they make though when I’m trying to sleep!
True. Good to know that we share a creature in common:)
Ew, I totally can’t stand cicada–from their big red eyes, to their sheer number, to the incessant humming noises, to them flying in my hair and getting stuck. That said, we have them in Northern Virginia but not in my neighborhood this time. Thank goodness for that.
Not a popular creature. I find them enchanting actually:)
How cool. Your little dancing cicada looks happy to be shedding that skin! I wonder if we will have a similar cicada spring…?
If you do, the photos will be stunning!
We had the Cicada’s here a couple years ago. The wonder of them quickly wore off as more and more of them broke free from their slumber and sang. The sound becomes deafening!!!!
It sure does!
Such a strange natural phenomena! I am almost sad to miss it but I suspect most won’t feel that way. Lovely, graceful painting!
Thanks Cindy. Yes, there are few fans of the cicada, though there are some that are fascinated.
This is great and really turns the bad memory of what I experienced during the last huge cicada swarm into something to take a bit of joy from now, so many years apart.
Oh, I’m glad Allyson Marie! They can seem …overwhelming at least.
Its an amazing phenomenon – but then, that’s nature!!
Absolutely!
I sure wish cicadas were as adorable as your drawing! They haven’t reached us here YET in Virginia…but I’m sure soon!
Get ready:)
Awesome illustration in your Wednesday colors. Have a sunshine day!
You too Arjun:)
Watch David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth last night on DVD…perfect reminder of the astonishing creativity in life!
Yes, isn’t that wonderful Scilla? Thanks!
Oh, what a joyful little guy!!! Lovely, Elena!
🙂
Thanks Marina!
I wondered what happened to the bugs after i saw the shells on the ground. I didn’t go find out, as this made me shudder 😀 blah This painting does work and the color is right too! I like katydids and the praying mantis.
Cicadas are not everyone’s favorite:) Thanks Elisa.
Very nice!
Thanks Mary!
I do not like Cicada’s, but this lil guy is adoreable. He looks to be dancing!
Yes, that’s just how they look:)