Last year I did a post about not having noticed cicadas in my yard and many of my Tucson friends were very surprised as they were deafened by them on a daily basis during the summer. Well I think I have finally worked out why I hadn't registered them here. Previously when I have lived in places where cicadas occur I am used to them being an omnipresent ear-splitting presence, providing enough decibels to make your brain bleed. OK so I may be exaggerating slightly but suffice it to say they were VERY loud. So the cicadas in my yard strike up individually, a novel concept in itself, and they call for no longer than fifteen seconds and then stop - yes I timed it! What gives? Do I have the worlds politest cicadas or what?
