Bug Loving Boy, 5, Finds Two, Rare Blue-Eyed Cicadas In Palos Heights

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Some people go nuts for Christmas, others, like 5-year-old Jason Prange, go nuts for cicadas. Since their emergence a few weeks ago in the south suburbs, the lucky Palos Heights boy has found not one but two rare blue-eyed cicadas.

Jason’s dad, Rick, told Patch that his son has been having a blast in our spring blizzard of cicadas, the likes of which have not been seen since 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was president.

“He’s been waiting a year, he knew they were coming,” Rick said. “He loves most insects and is on Cloud 9 with all the cicadas we have.”

Most of the cicadas emerging by the billions in Illinois have the trademark red-orange eyes. The blue-eyed critters are the result of genetic mutations. With the double emergence of Brood VIII and Brood XIX, there are bound to be a few blue-eyed mutants.

Jason found the first blue-eyed cicada in his backyard a few weeks ago, after his parents told him to look for the rare blue-eyed ones.

“I caught it on the swingset,” Jason told Patch.

They put the blue-eyed cicada named “Reggie” by Jason, into an old fish tank habitat with leaves and branches. Reggie has since passed on.

Then Jason found a second blue-eyed mutant at his grandma’s house a few days ago. Snuggles, the blue-eyed cicada, is now living in Reggie’s former digs.

“He loves catching bugs,” said Rick, who doesn’t know where his son gets his love of insects, since he wasn’t much of a bug catcher himself as a kid.

Prior to the pair of blue-eyed cicadas, Jacon’s biggest conquest was a praying mantis he found resting on the side of his house. He’s found a lot of other things under the landscaping rocks around his yard.

“Roly polies, grasshoppers, ants, stink beetles, centipedes and a lot of lightning bugs,” Jason said, naming them off.

Did you find a blue-eyed cicada? Take a picture of your cicada pal and help scientists study the phenomenon by uploading it to Cicada Safari (for Apple and Google) and iNaturalis.

More Patch Blue-Eyed Cicada Coverage:

A Very Bug Deal: Rare, Blue-Eyed Cicada Emerges From Orland Grassland

Blue-Eyed Cicada Spotted In New Lenox Township, Best Pals Make Find

7-Year-Old Girl Finds Rare Blue-Eyed Cicada 'Bluey' In Oak Lawn