Cicada Time!

For weeks now, the cicadas at the U of A have been sounding the alarm that the monsoon season is approaching. Just as they do every summer, thousands of the flying insects have emerged from their homes underground and are emitting a high pitch "song" which can peak at about 120 decibels. They are the loudest insects on earth. For comparison,  a jack hammer 50 feet away is only 95 decibels and physical pain in humans begins at 125 decibels. In other words they are loud! So I wouldn't recommend using them as ear plugs. 

Although they can be found anywhere on campus (and most of Arizona) I like to observe them on the east side of the Administration building. The long shady row of Velvet Mesquite trees there seems to be a popular hangout for the would-be lovers. Their loud mating call is only produced by the males who actually have to turn off their own sound receptors so as not to render themselves deaf.

Cicada drawn to a light on northwest steps of ILC

In other regions of the United States they have "periodical cicadas" which emerge after having spent the last 17 or 13 years underground in a nymph state developing and feeding on sap from tree roots. The varieties in Arizona are slightly different. They are "annual cicadas" (mainly of the varieties Tibicen, Diceroprocta, and Okanaga) with insects emerging every single year after having spent between 2 and 5 years underground. Once they emerge, they shed their outer shells which can easily be found still clinging to tree trunks and boulders around campus. Once they take flight they are quite clumsy navigators and sometimes crash into things (fun for cats to chase around if you get one in the house).

Cicada exoskeletons on tree trunk west of Modern Languages Building

After mating, females burrow into tree branches to lay their eggs. After six to eight weeks, they hatch and newborn cicadas fall to the ground and tunnel downward to feed and start the cycle all over again.

Most locals are so accustomed to their presence now that the sound is just another background noise, but for first time visitors the sound is quite impressive and bewildering. Luckily for us it's only seasonal.

Although I'm not gutsy enough to try my hand at cooking them, many people do eat cicadas. There are recipes for chocolate covered, sauteed, roasted, in pies, etc. Below are just a few if you are daring enough and looking for some free protein. If you cook 'em however, invite me over and I'll try them too.
Cicada Tacos
Harvesting & Cooking Guide (including recipes)