Summer Creature - aka Cicada

[DigitalScape]

Cicadas are a common sight (and even more, a common sound of summer).









The story behind the images:

I found this critter in the pool skimmer basket. It looked like it recently had expired, but had not been damaged by the other objects in the skimmer. So I thought it would be a good photo subject (a view or conclusion I am sure that my wife would not / does not support ). So got the camera set up with the lighting and took a few images.

After I was done, I wondered what to do with the subject. So I decided that I would place it in one of the flower pots and allow it to “fertilize” the plants. Later in the day, I went to water the various potted plants. When I put the hose to the pot I had left the cicada in, the cicada moved!! Not too sure that it was moving because of the water hitting it, I looked closer and the legs were moving – the critter was still alive. It was completely dormant and unresponsive when I was photographing it (it even got dropped a couple of times). I guess that it was dormant because of its extended swimming lesson and came to after warming up in the flower pot.

So just in case you have not looked closely (real close) at a cicada, this is your chance.

[lhdvies]

Now that's a close up!! Nice shots!

[dlanter]

Very cool shots John. I think the last would be my favorite because of the composition, but all have amazing color & details.

I brought inside a "dead" bumblebee one time for some shots only to have it come to life and fly through the house. The wife was NOT happy.

[DigitalScape]

Thank you Leon and Dan -- being "dead" sure helped in getting the close-up images (not having to work around a moving critter).

Dan, letting loose a bee in the house would get the same response over here too - spouses have little sense of humor in relation to these subjects.

[The Philos]

Very cool shots.

[ifly223]

I prefer to see them like this; that way I dont have to hear the noisy things. Nice job.

[Kenj8246]

Excellent work, John. Very interesting critter, the cicada.

[TheFantasticG]

Nice images and story. I'd like to find one. Just found a shell the other day.

[DigitalScape]

Thank you David, James, Kenny,and Garret for your comments.

[Hardrock]

Very nice! And great story...

[jfoureyes]

You did outstanding on these John! I love these critter's but never made any photos of them but they are on my list.

[SCone]

Go outside early in the morning (dawn is late) and check your tree trunks, If you're lucky, you'll find a cicada climbing up to hatch. They look like little tanks.