Periodical Cicadas Emergence: Rare Blue-Eyed Cicada Spotted In Illinois

A rare blue-eyed female Magicicada cassini cicada was spotted at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, during the emergence of periodical cicadas.

AP
Blue-eyed Cicada Photo: AP
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During the ongoing emergence of periodical cicadas, a rare sight at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois was witnessed when a blue-eyed female Magicicada cassini cicada was spotted. It was first discovered by a visitor. Later, the unique creature was brought to the Children's Garden by Senior Horticulturist Kate Myroup.

A few fortunate people had the chance to see it up close on Friday at the arboretum in Lisle, Illinois before it was released back into the wild. Cicadas, commonly having red-eyes, are emerging in great numbers in Chicago these days.

The unusual blue-eyed cicada took flight from its enclosure and landed on the pants of Stephanie Adams, the arboretum's plant health care leader. Intrigued young visitors took the chance to snap some photos of the rare insect.

"It's a casualty of the job," Adams said, who frequently is surrounded by the bugs.

According to Floyd W. Shockley, collections manager of the Department of Entomology at the Smithsonian Institute, blue-eyed cicadas are rare, but their occurrences is not very known.

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