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Due to some unfortunate misadventures in my youth, I’m generally avoidant of cicadas, even knowing that they are harmless. The hieroglyphic cicada (Neocicada hieroglyphica), at only 32mm long, is smaller than the cicadas I remember hatching in jars when I was younger (only to be dive-bombed by the resulting angry adults when I tried to let them loose), and a lot less intimidating.

Hieroglyphic cicadas are found all over the eastern and southern US, primarily in forests, and primarily near oaks (can you tell I have an oak tree in my backyard?). Click here to hear some snippets of their song.

I caught this individual emerging from its shell early in the morning, and caught its color change from fresh-and-pink to mature brown-and-black.

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