Anyone know about bugs?...........Or is it alien life???

Hi All,<br>I found this critter on my back steps this morning, at first it was upside down, when I flipped it over its legs moved slowly. I'm not sure if it wasstunned from hitting my sliding door, or if it was too cold, but now its gone!<br><br>Does anyone know what this is? It was approximately 3/4" wide x 3" long from head to wingtip<br><br><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/hanfam65/misc/IMG_1328.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="image"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/hanfam65/misc/IMG_1326.jpg" alt="image"><br><br>I had joked with my daughter, look an alien spacecraft! <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/alien.gif" alt="image"><img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif" alt="image"><br>All I know is, I've never seen one before, and it was weird looking!!

That a locust isn't it?

It's a cicada. Some have a fascinating life cycle.<br><br>Edit: Here's an info link: <a target="_blank" href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/cicada.html">http://animals.nationalge...animals/bugs/cicada.html</a><br>

or otherwise called a locust. LOL <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif">

<blockquote> <strong class="quote-title">1Perry wrote:</strong> <hr> or otherwise called a locust. LOL <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="image"></blockquote><p><br><br> No, it's a Cicada. <em><u><strong>This</strong></u></em> is a Locust; note how it looks like a common grasshopper:<br><img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~99octane/01/Locust-Migratory.jpg" alt="image"><br>Hanfam's doesn't look like that at all, especially in the head. <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif"></p><p>Greg</p>

I will third that it is a Cicada. I used to live in a place that was home to Brood X, a 17 year cicada. When they come out of the ground, you can practicallyswim in them.

Thanks for the replies, Cicada is definitely the critter, as the first pic on Wikipdia looks just like it <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada</a><br><br>Funny I'd never seen one before!

<blockquote> <strong class="quote-title">99octane wrote:</strong> <hr><blockquote> <strong class="quote-title">1Perry wrote:</strong> <hr> or otherwise called a locust. LOL <img alt="image" src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif"></blockquote> <p><br><br> No, it's a Cicada. <em><u><strong>This</strong></u></em> is a Locust; note how it looks like a common grasshopper: <br></p></blockquote> Cicada bugs, also called the "17 year locust....<br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/cicada.htm">http://www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/cicada.htm</a><br><br> Just saying....<br><br>

It's the rare "protobug"..... Only three "known to exist" soon to be seen on the upcoming Tomarts "Bugs of the World and What TheyAre Worth"

I always knew them as a Cicada.<br>They make the loud extended chirp during those hot summer days.<br>We always find their dried moulted shells still attached to the trees they climbed up for thier final moult.

They are cicadas. From gardenersnet.com: "They are sometimes called "17 Year Locust." Although, they are not related to locusts."<br><br>Locusts are grasshoppers. So calling a cicada a "locust" is false. But I guess it's sometimes used colloquially. Like when we were kids andcalled horned lizards "horny toads." When in fact they're not frogs or toads at all. And we knew it, too. <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif" alt="image"><br><br>

Thank you "Poindexter"...... DOH!!!! Sorry, that's Octane's moniker!!!

<blockquote> I had joked with my daughter, look an alien spacecraft! <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/alien.gif" alt="image"><img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif" alt="image"><br> All I know is, I've never seen one before, and it was weird looking!</blockquote><br><br>Even though you might never have seen them before, I guarantee you've heard them before. You know those <a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBQVG1EX9v0" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBQVG1EX9v0">alien sounds</a> we get here in New England towards the end ofSummer around Dusk. Your little new found friend is the source.<br><br>I've been fascinated by them ever since I was a kid.<br><br>~Joe<br><br>

I literally laughed out loud when I envisioned one of our RLOL copyrighted fights breaking out over this.

You're welcome, Dave.<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif" alt="image"><br><br>I figure you can use all the help you can get.<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/tongue.gif" alt="image">

You know, there is a significant resemblance between<br>the stereotypical little green alien face and the Preying Mantis...<br><img height="778" src="http://home.earthlink.net/~99octane/01/Alien-Mantis.jpg" width="1332" alt="image"><p><br></p>

Dayum Greg.......talk about VERY weird timing. I was watching an old X-Files episode tonight and Mulder was talking about how he hated bugs because he had afreaky encounter with a praying mantis when he was a kid. He then mentioned the bug/alien face resemblance..............queue X-Files theme music now.