"They cover the grounds and fill the skies! I must admit that I do despise frogs and gnats and locusts and flies."

The wonders of nature, and the interesting phenomenons of the midwest...

I tried to help myself get over my disgust and fear of the amazing 17-year cicadas. Torn between the desire to get closer for more pictures and the stronger desire to run the hell away, I'm not sure how well it worked. I journeyed to my favorite hang-out in LF, the cemetary, where the air was filled with dozens of different bird calls. It was deafening the sound they made as they devoured their feast of giant, protein-filled bugs.

The ground was littered with empty discarded shells




There were empty shells still clinging dearly to headstones and the undersides of leaves.

























You could just barely hear the flutter of wings as the creatures struggled out of their shells.

















Those who had made it safely out of their shells without being eaten or smashed on the road














were calmly resting wherever they could, enjoying the warmth of the summer sun.