Cicadas

As I sat on our deck in a cool breeze of the early morning, the sound of birdsong was dwarfed by another sound of nature; the buzzing, clicking of Cicadas dominated the usual early morning nature sounds. Although not yet over powering all morning sounds, the Cicadas definitely led the way. Rather than being grouchy that I couldn’t hear song birds, I thought, “Here it is August already, and you July Flies are still around.”

On the farm in Deepstep, where I grew up, every summer we would hear that loud, hollow, buzzing in the trees; typically, it would begin in July. My grandparents called them “July Flies;” actually they are “Cicadas.”  When Zach, my grandson, began his pilgrimage in Boy Scouts, I went with the troop on most of their camping, hiking, and canoeing excursions. On one camping trip we were deep in the woods when an adult leader said, “Do you hear that?” It was a cacophonous racket; an overpowering hum, sounding something like a massive gas-powered model airplane airshow! He said, “It is the sound of Cicadas. They return every seventeen years.” Deep in the woods, unencumbered by civilization, this population Cicadas was impressive; their sound  was unmistakable. He was mostly correct about the seventeen year cycle.

Actually, there are some species that do have a seventeen year life span. Some seem to like to disappear for years, reappearing in masses at regular intervals. The life span of some species is two to five years. Some live much longer. According to one reliable source;  “Even periodical cicadas occur most years in different geographic regions as they are split among 15 brood cycles, each lasting 13 or 17 years.”

Some cultures find life-rebirth symbolism in Cicadas; others see in them symbolism of purity. Cicadas are virtually harmless. They do provide some defense against certain invasive vegetation. Cicadas typically do not invade like the Locusts of biblical proportions. Much of their value is providing a link in the food chain.

Mostly, what I remember of “July Flies”happened during Vacation Bible School outdoor activities; boys found abandoned shells of July Flies. An impressive sight, looking like the live insect, they were ideal tor frightening girls. Even more exciting, was saving the shell of a Cicada and slipping it into a girl’s purse; a set-up for a delayed surprise. For some reason, I knew about such tricks.

Implicitly, Scripture puts Cicadas in perspective;

Then God commanded, “Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small”—and it was done. So God made them all, and he was pleased with what he saw. (Genesis 1:24)

I like the way Cecil F. Alexander illuminates that Genesis passage:

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all.