What the what!?! Thanks to Linday for sending from Adams Morgan: “The last of Brood X cicadas?” Read More

photo by Andrew Pasko-Reader

Runner up (only because this theme won last year’s honors) and more awesome: Read More

“Dear PoPville,

This 17-year old Massospora fungus-free male is patiently waiting for my one true love to land back in my life. Can you hear my sweet song?

Our first meeting was brief, but I have been waiting my entire life to meet someone like you. In July, I was relaxing in a Cedar in Lincoln Park, thinking about the animated friends I’d made over the past six weeks. You dropped in and made a silly comment about all the four-legged animals running around free. As we both laughed, our red eyes connected, and I could tell this was a love years in the making. Read More

Dylan asked: “Bug people of DC…any idea what these hornet/wasp looking things are? They look a lot like murder hornets.”

Lots of folks knew straight away: “Harmless Cicada killers. (Well, harmless to humans at least)”

And now for some live action: Read More

via USDA from wikipedia

This was a serious Public Health Service for those of us who don’t read who don’t read newspapers. Thank you for sharing this information!

— Fish is for punks (@fishisforpunks) August 8, 2021

I was losing my mind but read about it in one of our rant/revels. Oak mite bites are truly truly awful. The Post reported:

“The incessant, shrieking sounds of cicadas may no longer be afflicting the Washington region, but experts say the insects may be bringing a new nuisance — oak leaf itch mites. And they bite.

These microscopic mites are feeding on the billions of cicada eggs produced across the D.C. region and dropping out of trees. If you happen to be under or near these oak trees, those mites may land on you and bite.”

If you want to see what one looks like, Haley shares one of hers: Read More

photo by Simon

And so concludes, it seems, our cicada fun. What a ride. See you in 17 years.

Cicada Countdown was brought to you by Friends of the White Whale Society.

Thanks to Helen for sharing this awesomeness: “My boyfriend Stephen made this guy to celebrate Brood X – it was a big hit!” Read More

Thanks to Allie for sending: “Found a cicada commuting on the Silver line this morning!”

And thank to Rachael for giving a taste of just how loud these guys can get: Read More

Photo by Mayda Nathan

We admired some earlier works by Chalk About in Mount Pleasant here.

Thanks to Mayda and Danny for sending the latest: Read More

Thanks to Nick for sending a shot of our friend “munching a cicada” this morning.

Friends of the White Whale Society is brought to you by the team behind Last Christmas Tree in Town.