Mingming Cicada (Oncotympana maculaticollis)

We are all familiar with the sound and sight of these summer serenaders (or at least their shed skins), but by this time the cicada nymphs have already spent many years underground feeding on tree roots. So why wouldn’t you make your presence known? The name of these huge Chinese cicadas reflects their raucous and seemingly sad call…”Ming Ming, woooooow”.
Cicadas, like most insects, have three primitive eyes or ocelli as well as the two large compound eyes. The ocelli are sensitive to light and in conjunction with the compound eyes, they provide the insect with two distinct types of vision. In many cicadas though these appear very jewel-like and in this case look like cut rubies.

Beijing, China

See more Chinese bugs, hoppers and cicadas on my Flickr site HERE…..