Categories
Pop Culture

New Cicada Stuff

Thanks to Roy Troutman for these cicada-themed items: clothespins, a ring and a tin clicker toy.

cicada stuff

Categories
Toys and Amusements Video

A new cicada video: Cicada Toys, Art, Action Figures, Lures, Keyrings, Soda and other Objects

I had some free time today so a made a video of the cicada-related objects I’ve collected over the past 15 or so years. The video includes cicada noise makers, whistles, action figures, a music comp, a kite, cicada soda, rubber toys, fishing lures and other fun stuff.

Cicada Toys, Art, Action Figures, Lures, Keyrings, Soda and other Objects from Cicada Mania on Vimeo.

Categories
Cicada Mania Lucky Cicada Key Chain Pop Culture Video

The Legendary Lucky Cicada Keychain

Thee Legendary Lucky Cicada Keychain from Cicada Mania on Vimeo.

Update (5/2011): I finally found one of these keychains, but I’m going to keep looking for more. Plus we have, Cicada Keychain Parts, Packaging scans from Ben, Packages and images found by Roy, and a scan from an Archie McPhee catalog from Suzanne M.

Once or twice a year someone e-mails Cicada Mania asking if we know where to
find the cicada keychain — you know, “the one that buzzes”. Although there
are many keychains which feature
cicadas (e.g. trapped in amber),
I’ve never found the cicada keychain online.

I haven’t found these in stores since Clinton was in office. Back in the day,
you could find them in mall stores like “The Nature Company”, “The Science Nook”
and “The Planet Store”. Once, in the late 90’s I asked the manager of one of these
stores about the these
keychains and she said: “we don’t carry them any more, the last batch was defective”.
She seemed angry that I even asked her about them. I wish I knew more. Maybe these
stores lost so much money because of these defective key chains that they all went
out of business? Or maybe they didn’t sell enough whale song CDs, glow-in-the-dark
moon stickers, or mystical crystals to pay the rent?

I’ve spent way too much time looking for these keychain online, and I’ve
pretty much given up hope.

  • I’ve searched numerous online stores that specialize in novelties and keychains.
  • I’ve e-mailed these stores requesting that they stock these keychains — but I get no response.
  • I’ve searched ebay.
  • I’ve spend hours doing Google searches.

There are two problems with searching for stuff like this online:

  1. Search engines have a hard time indexing online stores (for technical reasons
    I won’t waste your time with), and…
  2. Who knows how people would describe these things?
    Are they keychains, key chains, keyrings, or key rings? Are they cicadas, locusts,
    insects or bugs? Do they buzz, chirp, scream, or beep?

While searching for cicada keychain:

Online stores I’ve searched include:

Update: I recently tried to get the CEO of Archie McPhee to reintroduce this product:

Categories
Books Pop Culture

Greek Entomythology by Artemis Ippotis

Here’s something fun for fans of entomology, Greek mythology and creativity: Greek Entomythology by Artemis Ippotis. Artemis (Diana Knight) has created a fun and whimsical book that tells Greek myths using photos of insects. The book is truly one of a kind! Artemis is also planing on offering the book as an iPad/iPhone app.

If you’re interesting in obtaining the book, write Diana at:

Diana Knight
The Manor,
Barton Mills,
Suffolk IP 28 6BL
UK

The book features some of my Tibicen photos. I laughed out loud when I saw the Tibicen playing a lyre.

Greek Entomythology by Artemis Ippotis

New, here’s a video promo for the book:

Categories
Christmas

Merry Christmas

Cicada Christmas

Christmas gives me a chance to use this image of a (cartoon) cicada nymph drinking the fluids of a Christmas tree.

Categories
Stamps

Cicada Stamps

Here’s some cicada stamps from around the world (with some other animals mixed in):

Cicada stamp from France

Cicada stramps from around the world

Categories
Lucky Cicada Key Chain Toys and Amusements

The keychain saga continues

Thanks for Suzanne M for the scan of the Archie McPhee catalog featuring the amazing cicada keychain.

Lucky Cicada Toy Advert

I actually finally found one of these thanks to a family member.

Categories
Lucky Cicada Key Chain Toys and Amusements

Lucky Cicada Keychain packaging

Ben from Quebec emailed us photos of the packaging for the Lucky Cicada Keychain (Toy, Keyring).

Hello,
Here a picture of my toy cicada package. I bought it at Discovery Island (now closed), a former small theme park of Walt Disney World back in 1993.
Ben (QC)

Lucky Cicada

Lucky Cicada

Categories
Arts & Crafts

Mutant cicadas enjoying a Mongolian Hot Pot dinner

This whimsical display of dismembered and “reassembled” cicadas enjoying a Mongolian Hot Pot dinner can be yours! It’s for sale on ebay!

cicadadisplay

Awesome!

Categories
Pop Culture Tattoos

Cool Cicada Tattoo

Cicadas are cool, and tattoos can be pretty cool too. Take a took at Sandy Herder’s new cicada tattoo. Awesome.