The cicada went wild the moment I flipped the switch for the back porch light, flinging itself violently against the glass window panes and crashing into the side of the house all the while making it's eerie buzzing sounds. The small brown dog cornered it but was frightened off by it's anxious and threatening noise - she yelped and retreated to my side to safely watch. Even the black dog was cautious, approaching one step at at time and then jumping back as the thing took it's jerky, convulsive flight. It slammed into the back door, fell with a thud, regained it's wings and flew straight into the railing, on a collision course with death, I was certain. But no, it staggered and then took wing again, it's chunky little body ramming directly into the light fixture, it's hoarse, scratchy little voice humming loudly in protest. The dogs watched in amazement and apprehension, not making a sound but following every movement intently. Inside, the cats had gathered as one. Muggs had climbed the screen and was hanging on by her front claws - below her, a small troup of spectating felines were fascinated by the noise and the commotion, drawn together out of curiosity and predatory instincts. The cicada continued it's mad dance around the light for several minutes and then flew raggedly toward the windows where it crash landed on the outside sill and lay motionless. This was a creature who had lost it's way and after a final, explosive struggle,had made a grand and memorable exit from life. The dogs satisfied themselves that the small thing was no longer a threat and the cats lost interest once the noise and the frenzied flight were over. It was another lesson in the fact that life goes on.
Cicadas are relatively benign insects with short life spans. They are harmless creatures, primarily known for their acoustic abilities and an unfortunate tendency to be eaten by birds. That something so small should cause such consternation and anxiety among my animals - noticeably higher up in the food chain and at least slightly more intelligent than a mad, buzzing insect, at least so I hope - was interesting. I doubt they recognize life as such, it's the movement and the sounds that draw them, but I would like to think that they understand that these other creatures are more than wind-up, mechanical noisemakers. The demise of one cicada is not likely to cause an ecological shift in nature - still, it might have been something's mother or father or sibling, a breadwinner perhaps or a stay-at-home mom out for one night of freedom. It's hard to know how it all works. I scooped up the corpse and disposed of it, uncertain if the dogs might be tempted to think it an hors'doerve and wanting to be safe rather than sorry.
Cicadas are relatively benign insects with short life spans. They are harmless creatures, primarily known for their acoustic abilities and an unfortunate tendency to be eaten by birds. That something so small should cause such consternation and anxiety among my animals - noticeably higher up in the food chain and at least slightly more intelligent than a mad, buzzing insect, at least so I hope - was interesting. I doubt they recognize life as such, it's the movement and the sounds that draw them, but I would like to think that they understand that these other creatures are more than wind-up, mechanical noisemakers. The demise of one cicada is not likely to cause an ecological shift in nature - still, it might have been something's mother or father or sibling, a breadwinner perhaps or a stay-at-home mom out for one night of freedom. It's hard to know how it all works. I scooped up the corpse and disposed of it, uncertain if the dogs might be tempted to think it an hors'doerve and wanting to be safe rather than sorry.
Come, sweet death, and we will fight with the foolish courage and conviction of a cicada.
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