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the eyes and the “W” shaped pattern on the wings.)
From travellers to and from Southwest Virginia, 1 have received inquiries as to the cause of oak leaves (at the tips of branches only) turning brown in midsummer. This is in all probability caused by cicada egg-laying. The bizarre life cycle of the seventeen-year cicada is as follows:
Eggs are laid in twigs of hardwood trees, causing the apparent epidemic of twig die-back, which is harmless. After hatching, the young drop to the ground, burrow, and feed by sucking the juices of tree roots.
The nymphs dig their way out, usually after seventeen years. Crawling up on a tree trunk or other support, they shed their translucent outer shells and fly off as adults.
Mating and egg-laying ■follow. After seventeen long years underground, the cicada enjoys only about a week of life in the light of day!
“Lady Bugs”
A yearly occurrence that is occasionally noticed by hikers is the congregation of huge masses of "lady bugs" in late summer or early fall. I have only received one report of this phenomenon this year (from Amherst County), but in past years I have seen it on
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