Zoo animals devour rare cicadas
Animals were spotted eating cicadas at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. This is the first time the periodical cicadas have appeared in 17 years, and they are part of two groups. The last time this happened was in 1803.
Two separate families living in suburban Chicago accidentally encountered a “one in a million” blue-eyed cicada and shared photos of the vibrant insect.
Greta Bailey told Fox News Digital that her 4-year-old son, Jack, was collecting the typically red-eyed cicadas when he first spotted the bright-eyed insects in the backyard of their Wheaton, Illinois, home.
Bailey said Fox 59 She didn’t even notice the blue-eyed cicada until it wandered into her backyard.
“I thought it was super cool and unique and I’d never even heard of blue-eyed cicadas existing,” Bailey said.
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Greta Bailey’s 4-year-old son discovered the bright-eyed cicada in the backyard of their Wheaton, Illinois home. (Greta Bailey via Facebook)
Bailey said the family enjoyed photographing the cicadas before releasing them back into the wild.
Bailey’s photo showed the tiny creature, with striking blue eyes, being held by three children.
Greta Bailey’s daughters hold a blue-eyed cicada, which was later released by the family. (Greta Bailey via Facebook)
Another woman living in a Chicago suburb discovered a “one in a million” blue-eyed cicada while visiting a nature preserve.
Kelly Simkins, owner of Marlin’s Rocking Pet Show, shared the amazing discovery on Facebook, posting a photo of the cicada’s bright blue eyes.
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“A one in a million blue-eyed cicada was discovered at 7am today.” Simkins said in the post..
Two species of blue-eyed cicadas were spotted in suburban Chicago this week. (Greta Bailey and Kelly Simpkins)
Family discovery is rare but not unheard of.
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Gene Kritsky, author of “Periodic Cicadas: Plague and Mystery,” says blue eyes are the result of a genetic mutation.
Kritsky acknowledged that blue-eyed cicadas are indeed one in a million, but “of course, there are hundreds of millions of cicadas,” he added.
