These cadmium red eyed insects emerged after being underground for 17 years! Those in the south and southeastern United States saw quite a sight as swarms of these insects buzzed their way into yards and decks and trees singing their little cicada hearts away, trying to attract a mate.
Females laid as many as 500 eggs in the bark of trees (in this woodcut it’s a very stylized ninebark bush). The larvae with drop to the ground and burrow to feed on the sap and other nutrients from the roots below only to emerge and start another cycle 17 years from now. I can only wonder how our world will be different then…will we have figured out a way to prevent glaciers from melting? Will our power grid be electrified with sustainable systems backing it? One can only hope, and celebrate the cicadas when they return.
(This woodcut will ship end of next week, probably on the 24th of September because it is currently drying.)
edition of 22
Image size 10”x11”
Paper size 15”x16”
Title: Brood X