Cicada, originally uploaded by blanp.

By this time next week Flickr.com will be swarming with cicada photos.

Cicada, originally uploaded by Jason Means.

17 year cicada photos are starting to show up on Flickr.com.

Here’s a news story from Cincinnati featuring cicada expert Gene Kritsky.

Hey cicada hunters! Want to earn $10 for finding a rare white-eyed 17 year cicada? Roy Troutman is willing to pay $10 cash for the first 10 healthy white-eyed cicadas you find. 99.9% of the time 17 year cicadas have red colored eyes, but a few have white eyes. Roy wants to try to breed white eyed cicadas, but he needs your help finding them because they are so rare.

Here’s the rules:

First rule: you must be within driving distance of Roy, as Roy will pick them up in person. That includes the following counties:

Ohio: Clermont, Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clinton, Highland, Adams, Brown, & Clinton

Kentucky: Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Pendleton, & Bracken

Indiana: Franklin, Dearborn

Second rule: the cicada must be healthy — not dead.

Third rule: once you find a white eyed cicada, take a photo or video and email it to Roy sbpstudios@gmail.com. Roy is interested in both adults and nymphs, as he’s never seen a white-eyed nymph. If the insect looks good, Roy will arrange a pickup.

Fourth rule: Roy only needs 10 cicadas. Once Roy gets his 10 cicadas the offer will be removed from the site.

Important: here’s what they look like:

Cicada event in Cincinnati area on May 31st. Gene Kritsky will be doing a lecture. I encourage all cicada fans to see Gene speak — he is both informative and very entertaining.

Cicada Lecture at Rowe Woods
Learn all about the 17-year periodical cicadas that will be emerging this summer in Clermont County. Dr. Gene Kritsky, professor at the College of Mt. St. Joseph will share his knowledge of these unique insects.
Other Info:
Age Group:Adults
Date:5/31/2008 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Current/Maximum Registered: 3/50
Cost: $6; with CNC membership $4.

http://www.cincynature.org/calendar.asp?by_month=1&MONTH=5&YEAR=2008

For those of you who want to see where cicadas are emerging, check out the Google map on Magicicada.org. It’s on the right side of the page.

Folks, we just got word from Gene Kritsky that an adult was reported emerging in Maderia, Ohio today. The emergence has begun; expect large numbers of cicadas to start appearing within the next 10 days in most areas. Get your cameras, camcorders, audio recording devices and fishing rods ready.

From Gene:

I had my first report of an adult periodical cicada emerging in Madeira, a suburb of Cincinnati today. So the early ones are starting.

Read the news story.

Ebay has been a good resource for cicada specimens and Asian artifacts over the years, but you’ll also find toys, fishing lures and other whimsical cicada-themed items.

Swat the Cicada game. I typically discourage cicada swatting, but this is just a game and no real cicadas are harmed.

Cicadas attending the Kentucky Derby (Minyanville)?

Cicadas coming to Western North Carolina (Asheville Citizen Times).

A 13 image slide-show of Magicicada photos (Citizen-Times).

Video: Covered by Cicada a Video news report by John Marra (WSAL).

Cicadas coming to Warren County, Kentucky (Bowling Green Daily News).

Cicadas ready to croon in Cincinnati (The Enquirer).

Video: Update on the Cicada Arrival. Another cicada report from John Marra (WSAL).

Website: INVASION OF THE CICADAS! This is the Indiana University Magicicada web site. A cool new site to add to your favorites.

Cicada Mania was featured on WTAP’s Surfin’ with Kirk! Watch the video news report. Very Cool!!!