WILD KINGDOM
May, 2011
The first indication something unusual was afoot manifested as white noise. It sounded like a hymn or a hum or some kind of machinery. Pretty soon everyone was hearing it, and there was talk of Locusts and Cicada Pizza. We did a little reading and found out we were indeed in for a treat.
THE NINETEENTH HATCHING OF THE 13-YEAR CICADAS
By mid-month the ground was littered with holes where the cicadas had crawled our of the earth to begin their frenetic mating dance. Soon enough, the humming gave way to sporadic bursts of mating calls. The trees were littered with empty shells, and some of our friends were reportedly frying the nymphs and eating them like popcorn.
Eventually, the shells drop back to earth to nourish the trees, and the newly mated cicadas lay their eggs on branch tips which will also fall to earth. The eggs will hatch and the tiny cicada larvae will burrow underground, find a succulent root and suck sap for thirteen years until it’s their turn to emerge, shed, sing, and mate. By the first week of June, the trees were silent.
GUESSING GAME
Camille and her new friend, Peg found these two specimens while riding Peg’s horses through the woods. We identified the lime like structure as an Oak Apple Gall, wherein a wasp tricks an oak tree to encase one of its eggs in a nifty, nourishing package. But we were unable to identify the growths on the right. Please drop us a line if you have an idea what this is.
THERE WAS AN OLD WOM-WREN
Who laid her eggs in my shoe…
SNAPPER
This intimidating fellow (or lady) passed through our garden on May 8th, presumably on its way to a nearby pond.
ARMOUR
The snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina sports an impressive armored skin. They look prehistoric as well they should as they have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. If you are interested in watching a wild man catch these intimidating beasts, check out the Turtleman.