Comments on: ricochet http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:24:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173989 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:36:18 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173989 Laura - A lot of the tree and leaf hoppers fly erractically, just like the cicadas. When you examine them up close, they look very similar. I suspect that their weird flght must have to do with the shape of their bodies and wings -- probably not very stable. They can certainly propel themselves forward at high speed, but I have a feeling they don't have all that much control over their flight. It's rather disconcerting to have something as large as a cicada crash into your head! (-: - am - Thanks for leaving that note. That's just the kind of note I love to see! - Stuart - Cicadas do look a little bizarre, especially the exuviae which always remind me of some creature out of a sci-fi flick. I'm sure that kids would find them pretty cool. - Cate - I always feel that summer has truly arrived when the buzzing of cicadas can be heard in the gardens surrounding our house. - Cathy - They *are* a bit fearsome when they are zooming around. I always worry about having one hit me in the face as I just don't think they have too much control over their flight -- sort of a loose cannon situation. Interesting that a couple of you have mentioned not hearing cicadas yet this summer. They're so tied to the weather, heat, etc... that I suspect there's some connection there. I'd have to check my notes, but I believe I heard the first one of the year here at the farm on July 11th. As I type this note, there's one droning away out in the back garden. You're quite right about the sound of them sometimes becoming unsettling. If there are several and it's a very hot, dry day, they can become a little tiresome after awhile. Laura - A lot of the tree and leaf hoppers fly erractically, just like the cicadas. When you examine them up close, they look very similar. I suspect that their weird flght must have to do with the shape of their bodies and wings — probably not very stable. They can certainly propel themselves forward at high speed, but I have a feeling they don’t have all that much control over their flight. It’s rather disconcerting to have something as large as a cicada crash into your head! (-:
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am - Thanks for leaving that note. That’s just the kind of note I love to see!
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Stuart - Cicadas do look a little bizarre, especially the exuviae which always remind me of some creature out of a sci-fi flick. I’m sure that kids would find them pretty cool.
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Cate - I always feel that summer has truly arrived when the buzzing of cicadas can be heard in the gardens surrounding our house.
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Cathy - They *are* a bit fearsome when they are zooming around. I always worry about having one hit me in the face as I just don’t think they have too much control over their flight — sort of a loose cannon situation. Interesting that a couple of you have mentioned not hearing cicadas yet this summer. They’re so tied to the weather, heat, etc… that I suspect there’s some connection there. I’d have to check my notes, but I believe I heard the first one of the year here at the farm on July 11th. As I type this note, there’s one droning away out in the back garden. You’re quite right about the sound of them sometimes becoming unsettling. If there are several and it’s a very hot, dry day, they can become a little tiresome after awhile.

]]> by: Cathy http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173908 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:40:02 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173908 Isn't that something! Of course I'd have been ducking and running the other way - I'm like Laura - that's a BIG BUG to have zooming around your head. Interestingly - I'd just remarked to my husband tonight that we're not hearing cicada yet. I guess I've not payed close attention to what date they start to sing (buzz?) in earnest. It seems to me that when they really get cranking it can almost be unsettlingly noisy. Isn’t that something! Of course I’d have been ducking and running the other way - I’m like Laura - that’s a BIG BUG to have zooming around your head.

Interestingly - I’d just remarked to my husband tonight that we’re not hearing cicada yet. I guess I’ve not payed close attention to what date they start to sing (buzz?) in earnest. It seems to me that when they really get cranking it can almost be unsettlingly noisy.

]]> by: Cate (KerrdeLune) http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173885 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:58:12 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173885 Bev, your cicadas are marvellous - I haven't seen one yet this year and I have been looking. They are one of my favourite summer residents. Thank you for these gorgeous cicadas. Bev, your cicadas are marvellous - I haven’t seen one yet this year and I have been looking. They are one of my favourite summer residents. Thank you for these gorgeous cicadas.

]]> by: Stuart http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173867 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:41:55 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173867 I find cicada's such strange looking critters, they always somehow remind me of frogs. Found a cicada skin in the undergrowth of one of my bonsai trees the other day, my 6 year old thought it was quite "cool". I find cicada’s such strange looking critters, they always somehow remind me of frogs. Found a cicada skin in the undergrowth of one of my bonsai trees the other day, my 6 year old thought it was quite “cool”.

]]> by: am http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173866 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:07:48 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/07/28/ricochet/#comment-173866 Just stopping in to say that I love your blog. I used to ignore insects and spiders, thinking that they were not very interesting. Now when I see one in my porch garden or anywhere else, I stop and look closely. You've opened up a new world for me. Thank you so much! Just stopping in to say that I love your blog. I used to ignore insects and spiders, thinking that they were not very interesting. Now when I see one in my porch garden or anywhere else, I stop and look closely. You’ve opened up a new world for me. Thank you so much!

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