“You might notice that some cicadas have shriveled-up or otherwise damaged wings. Most of the time, their wings become damaged during the molting process (ecdysis), specifically while their wings harden (sclerotize). Their wings and body are most vulnerable when they are still soft.”*
Not all cicadas get to fly. They are most vulnerable when they are still soft, sort of like us. They get trampled by those who are stronger and faster. There are obstacles that prevent them from hanging the way they need to for their wings to harden. Sometimes, they are killed by predators, sometimes by those who are just scared and decide to step on them.
Seeing hundreds of cicadas living out their life cycle, driven by some unseen force, has me thinking. Cicadas live their life unaware, blindly competing and crawling over each other, trying to succeed, trying to get a chance to mate. Sometimes they are damaged though no fault of their own. Watching the human race, it can seem that a cicada’s life is way too much like our own. But watching the cicadas also reminds me…and I have hope.
Unlike cicadas, we can move beyond our basic instincts and power needs. We can question what we’ve come to believe about ourselves, others and the world . We can become more: more of who we really are, more self-accepting, more loving, more creative in solving the challenges of the world.
Cicadas may mirror how life too often is for us. However, they can also remind us that “more” is possible. I have hope.
*https://www.cicadamania.com/cicadas/why-do-some-cicadas-have-shriveled-up-or-damaged-wings/
Still haven’t seen a cicada up here. Interesting info and perspective!
I like this.Cicadas are my favorite insect because they are so triumphant over gravity and depravity. They are unstoppable and on their own mission, no matter what prevails. My favorite part of their life is the coming our of the shell and the self-propelled launching they instinctively do. Also, they don’t seem to mind the failures they incur as they fall to the ground and become fodder for the dogs and birds. I think they represent the best of being free to be who you are and taking the good with the bad. Here in Bowling Green we have heard only one sing at night, but they don.t comply with the politically correct media and try too hard to please the rest of us. (another of my favorites about them)
Now we have pizzacada recipes, cicada-chip cookies, cicadatosis and the old favorite child hood game of ” one-cicada, two-cicado, three-cicado, four”…
“Cry me a river but don’t pick me off the tree prematurely. I know what I’m doing.”
Finally, cicadas are just trying to be free to be themselves and they are. They don’t care or mind what we think or feel. I believe they represent true courage and acceptance of what is really real.