While I know I should be awash in appreciation for the sheer scientific wonder of these winged creatures – living underground for 17 years, only to then come roaring to life? – I admit I trip right over the miserable first impression. Let’s just say that, before we knew better, our dance with Brood X involved a 14-year-old dog for whom this was his first cicada rodeo; a fenced-in back yard with two enormous maple trees; one miserable night; and a rented carpet cleaner. We rented the machine for 24 hours, and my husband was prepared to haul it back after we’d cleaned up the worst of the mess. I told him we might want to wait until the next morning, to see what nocturnal surprises might still lie ahead. We live in an old house in a neighborhood full of trees. The bases of our backyard trees are covered with cicada shells — piles inches deep nestled in some of the roots. We have cicadas hanging from our grill, the back door, the deck chairs, the parsley and oregano growing in the … [Read more...]