Cicadas Illustrated 2: IL Residents Seeing Little Insects Everywhere

ILLINOIS — The cicadas are making their rare presence known throughout the state. While the insects spend most of their lives underground as immature nymphs, they do surface en masse every 13 or 17 years, as they are this year.

Most experts believe the number of cicadas seen in Illinois will peak by mid-June and start to dwindle down as the month concludes.

Speaking of "en masse," Patch readers are sending in photos of cicadas every day, from all across the state and especially Chicagoland. Last week, we ran a roundup of photos, and have decided to run another one this week. Thanks for sending and enjoy the cicadas!

Lisa Burton Radzely found this "cute" cicada in her West Lake Forest yard.

Trisha Asbrand sent us this photo she took of a friendly cicada in Mokena.

Matthew Howe found this tree of cicadas at Midlothian Meadows in Midlothian.

Sharon Latek, of Northbrook, took these photos of Jayne Latek at the age of 3 when cicadas were here in 2007, and now when Jayne is 20.

Dylan Rose, 9, photographed these cicadas seemingly stuck together at a Buffalo Grove park.

Jennifer Botica, of Tinley Park, tells us she's seen some blue-eyed cicadas, but found this cicada with heterochromia, or different color eyes, in her yard.

Betty Mantell, of Wheaton, found these nymphs and the underside of some large branches covered with carcasses, one showing the emergence from the exoskeleton, at Seven Gables Park in Wheaton.

Kayla Miller got this neat shot of a cicada molting in Channahon.

Alison Rezabek, of Darien, sent in these photos of her daughter, Nora Higgins, 8, and a rare blue-eyed 17-year cicada. Alison said they found the bug and named it "Blueberry."

Linda Trytek found this emerging cicada in Deerfield.

RELATED:

• Cicadas Illustrated: IL Residents Are Bugging Out
• A Very Bug Deal — Rare, Blue-Eyed Cicada Emerges From Orland Grassland
• They're Here: First Cicada Sightings Begin In Chicago Area