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Return of the 17 Year Cicadas (time-lapse photography) watch!
youtube.com — Using time-lapse photography and real-time digital video, plant biologist Roger Hangarter and undergrad filmmaker Samuel Orr captured this remarkable life cycle in a 5-minute film complete with soundtrack and descriptive text.
lazycat- 931 diggs
- digg it
- chrgrose, on 09/07/2008, -0/+27That was an insanely cool video.
- diggPPT, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3So insane indeed that I almost puked my early breakfast...
- Rage67, on 09/08/2008, -0/+5soooo, someone had to sit there for 17 years...
knowing me, I woulda had to pee and miss the whole thing - omgroffles, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2I lol'd at the squirrel/obstacle
- MacBookForMe, on 09/07/2008, -0/+12An amazing work and a wonderful video!
- Synova, on 09/07/2008, -1/+20Great editing, good soundtrack, and very informative.
- chocobomog, on 09/08/2008, -13/+4Wow, someone likes Enya music. This music was probably popular when the cicadas currently emerging first buried themselves 17 years ago. Maybe the next video will have cicadas from the "Nirvana" generation. I can already hear them chanting "here we are now, entertain us".
Very cool video overall. - drgmdp, on 09/08/2008, -8/+1i was hoping the cicadas were not plants...
- fwertz, on 09/08/2008, -1/+6You know. I always thought dogs, laid eggs.
...And I learned something today...- RMoore08, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Woah, they don't?
- fwertz, on 09/08/2008, -1/+6You know. I always thought dogs, laid eggs.
- Conway, on 09/08/2008, -0/+8Hurray for the internets. That was very cool.
- xaxxon, on 09/08/2008, -8/+1There doesn't appear to be any time-lapse photography in the video.
- charm803, on 09/08/2008, -0/+5When they are transforming, although it looks pretty smooth, it's time lapse.
- CardinalFang, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3Time-lapse is used when they're molting. It usually takes 1 to 2 hours for some insects to shed its exoskeleton.
- psion01, on 09/08/2008, -1/+2I /think/ the cicada nymph march as they emerged from the ground looked fast -- that may have been time-lapse, and the maturation phase where the cicadas hung their wings out to dry was definitely time-lapse as this takes several hours before they're ready for flight.
- xaxxon, on 09/09/2008, -0/+1My bad. I must have gotten bored before that part.
- NeoNcP, on 09/08/2008, -3/+4interesting choice of music...
- Waterrat, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3 Yes,I liked it.
Very well made video.
- Waterrat, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3 Yes,I liked it.
- jperson, on 09/08/2008, -0/+35If you've been living in someone's basement for seventeen years, you now have two weeks left to mate.
- PunkRampant, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3But everyone else has been living in basements too, so it's all good.
- rubaaan, on 09/08/2008, -0/+12eww / awesome
- imitokay, on 09/08/2008, -2/+19what a great life
step 1: crawl out of ground
step 2: have sex
step 3: profit
... step 4 die (- Revolution101, on 09/08/2008, -0/+11can't profit without ????
- Revolution101, on 09/08/2008, -0/+11can't profit without ????
- DChapgier, on 09/08/2008, -3/+2hahaha gotta love the enya
- Ruqsaq, on 09/08/2008, -1/+1...or not.
- charm803, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Reminds me of Gary Larson for some reason.
It's not as gross as I thought it would be. Great video! - jjamminjon, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3Dugg for the sheer irony that a story like this has popped up coinciding with my kitchen encounter with one of these things. Definitely loud and creepy.
- Waterrat, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2 They are loud,but I'd not call them creepy.
- DKgatsby, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3Someone LOVES cicadas
- TheKillDoctor, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2If you ride a motorcycle you hate them
- Revolution101, on 09/08/2008, -4/+22Most annoying insect EVER.
- scubaman5000, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Someday I want to have the ability to make a video like this.
- TorstenSK, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3That soundtrack tried to make the Cicada process way more beautiful than I'll ever give it credit for.
Ughhhhh... - soot, on 09/08/2008, -0/+11I think its incredible that little insects like cicadas can live for up to SEVENTEEN years. I know almost that whole time is spent as nymphs underground, but still... that's a mind-boggling lifespan for such a small creature.
- Shiftyeyedgoat, on 09/08/2008, -0/+6This'd be a lot more badass if they mated to "Let's Get It On" and died en masse to Nightwish.
- DKgatsby, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1that's cliche as *****
- Otnehs, on 09/08/2008, -1/+0There were so many last time. Indiana really sucks, do they have these down south?
- soupdawg30, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2Only everywhere. My cats love to play with them
- PrincessSalami, on 09/08/2008, -0/+13Well I thought it was very beautiful.
But I think that you can take the life cycle of any creature, set it to Enya music and it would look beautiful. Life is a very beautiful and wonderful thing, we usually don't take the time to appreciate it anymore.
A good movie this reminds me of is Baraka
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3900008040 ...- diggystardust, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3Haha dugg for Baraka
- TunaFishGangsta, on 09/08/2008, -0/+31. That was cool.
2. Am I the only one that gets hungry looking at those things?- Phendrana, on 09/08/2008, -0/+7No. That squirrel probably does too.
- temugen, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1This video was cool last year when the Cicadas came out in the midwest... Hence the video submission date. Don't be expecting them around for another 16 years now :(
- thpntofsngUlrty, on 09/08/2008, -1/+1That's now how cicadas work...
- RealHyperX, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3They stagger a bit. Not all of them come out every 17 years. In my hood, a ton of them came out this year.
Also something else interesting to note. Where there were farm fields 17 years ago, urban sprawl has put shopping malls and parking lots over a lot of the cicadas. Kinda sad actually.- Jookly, on 09/08/2008, -1/+1maybe they will just keep growing until they are monsters and come up out of the pavement and eat us all.
- caracter2, on 09/08/2008, -1/+2What a pointless existence, you have to admit. Do they even contribute to the ecosystem except for that one day?
- joshcxa, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1That's what i was thinking. Anyone?
- ajwinder, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Yeah. They destroy trees and piss off humans.
Seriously though, they're around every 17 years and theres an offshoot branch of them thats like 6 years apart or something like that. They're not reliable enough for other species to depend on them as a food source, and they form all these parasitic relationships with their surroundings.
All I'm saying is I wouldn't flip out if we declared a War on Cicadas is all...
- ajwinder, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Yeah. They destroy trees and piss off humans.
- Myztry, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2Humans don't contribute to the ecosystem. Does that make us pointless?
In the end, the purpose of life for essentially all creatures is just continuing the species.- ajwinder, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Yeah, we're at the top of the food chain, we serve a huge function in population control for the lower-order species. Look at what happens when species disappear or dwindle, theres huge problems of over population control for its former prey, sometimes with disastrous effects on their environment.
If the purpose of life is continuing the species, someone might wanna clue the pandas in on that one... - Myztry, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1I wouldn't confuse extinction (out of) control with population control.
As for Pandas, refer to point 1.
Life went on for millions of years before humanity became significant. - caracter2, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1I feed my cat everyday...
- ajwinder, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Yeah, we're at the top of the food chain, we serve a huge function in population control for the lower-order species. Look at what happens when species disappear or dwindle, theres huge problems of over population control for its former prey, sometimes with disastrous effects on their environment.
- Niallgriff, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1They wouldn't have evolved and survived if they didn't contribute to the ecosystem.
- Myztry, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Not necessarily so. As long as more is created overall then consumed, the pool of life increases.
That's the fundamental problem with humanity. We are spending from millions of years of 'savings' and putting little away. Concrete and steel don't constitute life.
- Myztry, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Not necessarily so. As long as more is created overall then consumed, the pool of life increases.
- joshcxa, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1That's what i was thinking. Anyone?
- blacklilyninja, on 09/08/2008, -0/+8this video is nothing. you need to see this happen in real life. You will be amazed and grossed out at the same time. They are HUGE bugs.
- xxMaxaroni, on 09/08/2008, -0/+12Although cicadas extremely annoy me, it's really interesting to see this whole process. I had no idea it took 17 years. I'm never gonna be able to look at them the same way when I smash them out of my face.
- utahnkid, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2I'm pretty sure not EVERY kind lives that long.. A few of them only live a few years.
Still.. That's pretty amazing. Isn't the lifespan for most insects measured in days or weeks?- rnelsonee, on 09/09/2008, -0/+2Most cicadas live 2-5 years (there are thousands of types). The two largest and most commonly-known broods in North America are 13- and 17-year cicadas. This is an anti-predatory mechanism, as 13 and 17 are relatively large prime numbers - cicadas that operate on composite or low-numbered cycles have fallen prey to predators that have similar cycles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada
The whole thing is a great testament to Richard Dawkins' concept of the Selfish Gene - before Dawkins was known for his 'militant' atheism, he wrote some fascinating books, including the one just mentioned which suggested that people/animals/etc had zero purpose and there was no real 'reason' for life - it was that we are all vessels designed by our genes so that the genes could prosper. The cicadas spend 17 years underground with no interaction, flying, mating, or socializing. 17 long years in absolute darkness and solitude. And then in just a week or two, pop up, have sex, and then die. The whole process then repeats. The cicadas do not enjoy any life at all - it's just the easiest way for the genes to replicate themselves.
- rnelsonee, on 09/09/2008, -0/+2Most cicadas live 2-5 years (there are thousands of types). The two largest and most commonly-known broods in North America are 13- and 17-year cicadas. This is an anti-predatory mechanism, as 13 and 17 are relatively large prime numbers - cicadas that operate on composite or low-numbered cycles have fallen prey to predators that have similar cycles.
- utahnkid, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2I'm pretty sure not EVERY kind lives that long.. A few of them only live a few years.
- carcinogen, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3How can a process so cool be so annoying?
I think they found a way to cleverly avoid evolution, thus causing them to have little to control over where they fly (ie: your face and hair).- mesasone, on 09/08/2008, -0/+4Most cicadas go through a life cycle that lasts from two to five years. Some species have much longer life cycles, e.g., such as the North American genus, Magicicada, which has a number of distinct "broods" that go through either a 17-year or, in the American South, a 13-year life cycle. These long life cycles are an adaptation to predators such as the cicada killer wasp and praying mantis, as a predator could not regularly fall into synchrony with the cicadas. Both 13 and 17 are prime numbers, so while a cicada with a 15-year life cycle could be preyed upon by a predator with a three- or five-year life cycle, the 13- and 17-year cycles allow them to stop the predators falling into step.[9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada
- mesasone, on 09/08/2008, -0/+4Most cicadas go through a life cycle that lasts from two to five years. Some species have much longer life cycles, e.g., such as the North American genus, Magicicada, which has a number of distinct "broods" that go through either a 17-year or, in the American South, a 13-year life cycle. These long life cycles are an adaptation to predators such as the cicada killer wasp and praying mantis, as a predator could not regularly fall into synchrony with the cicadas. Both 13 and 17 are prime numbers, so while a cicada with a 15-year life cycle could be preyed upon by a predator with a three- or five-year life cycle, the 13- and 17-year cycles allow them to stop the predators falling into step.[9]
- logicalriot, on 09/08/2008, -11/+6nature is so gay you fags, nice enya music.
- bradharrelson, on 09/08/2008, -8/+2Over a year old. Buried.
- biggerapple3am, on 09/08/2008, -0/+4That's awfully cute music for footage straight out of a ***** horror film.
- GodIsntReal, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2Awesome video one thing i didn't understand is after they mate and lay eggs do they all die or do they keep on living afterwards?
- Myztry, on 09/08/2008, -1/+3I doubt all generation hatch at once. The scary thing is that there is probably 16 other generations in the ground at any one time.
Imagine if they all come out at once...- Stoyanov, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Sounds like the plot for the next low/no-budget horror movie.
- GregFD3S, on 09/08/2008, -0/+4Bricks.
I shat them. - crushtheenemy, on 09/08/2008, -1/+1http://www.myspace.com/cicadaclique
- Zlorp, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2Insects are aliens
- mverta, on 09/08/2008, -0/+0THAT WAS ***** HORRIFYING! I grew up with that Hitchcock-ian nightmare; screeching, swarming pests darkening the skies, and leaving a sea of dried husks crunching underfoot for weeks. ***** nature.
- rheaume, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Kinda creepy, not a big fan of bugs
- the13thzen, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2I had no idea ANY insect could live for that long.
And talk about butt-sex!- TheGooseyOne, on 09/08/2008, -1/+1I fapped.
- vinbob, on 09/08/2008, -3/+3Dugg even though Enya sucks.
- YodaJones, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1It's a all-you-can-eat squirrel buffet.
- ansatsu29, on 09/08/2008, -0/+4i like the enya soundtrack there...
- Jeoha86, on 09/08/2008, -0/+4Dugg for the fact i had to wikipedia Cicadas
- utahnkid, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Wiki didn't have the pronunciation! Bastards..
Is it: Kick-uh-duhs?
Or like: Kis-uh-duhs
Or: Kitch-uh-duhs- utahnkid, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1If anyone else even cared...
Apparently it's: Sick-a(like just saying the actual letter "a")-duh
Don't act like you all knew... - TheKillDoctor, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1sick-kay-dahs
- utahnkid, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1If anyone else even cared...
- utahnkid, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Wiki didn't have the pronunciation! Bastards..
- asinausk, on 09/08/2008, -1/+3Two of my favorite things: Enya and Cicadas.
this is going to be played at my wedding.- logicalriot, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2I'm glad i'm not going to your wedding.
- jstem1994, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1I hate these things. The sound during the big season (I know there's different broods and seasons) is deafening, even over a car stereo.
- bnuk013, on 09/08/2008, -0/+2http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~biodiv/Cicada_Pr ...
Shows maps for the different broods and when they come out. might help you know when to plan your next vacation- TalkingBanana, on 09/22/2008, -0/+1That can't be right... I live in Maryland and back in like 2004 we had the 17 year cicadas.
- slapded, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1why do they come out every 3 years yet people say 17. wtf
- bnuk013, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1different broods come out in different years. if you happen to live somewhere that two or more broods overlap you will see them more often. some have also evolved to 13 year cycles.
- hellsing47, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1God I hated those things.
I live in central PA and for about a month straight they are the only sound you can hear outsid - zip000, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1The transition to the adult form looked like something giving birth to itself. Kind of beautiful in a way, but also kind of gross.
I wonder what it must feel like to face the world with all new skin, leaving a husk of yourself behind.- tattoojoo, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3dunno. ask michael jackson.
- Sprules04, on 09/09/2008, -0/+1Bahahaha
That's one of the funniest replies I have read in such a long time. Thanks.
- Sprules04, on 09/09/2008, -0/+1Bahahaha
- flipdoubt, on 09/08/2008, -0/+1Try LSD. The effect can be somewhat similar.
- tattoojoo, on 09/08/2008, -0/+3dunno. ask michael jackson.
- xolot1, on 09/08/2008, -1/+2dugg for enya
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Show 51 - 59 of 59 discussions
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