Green Grocer Cicada
05 Jan 2011 3 Comments
in Wonderful Animals Tags: Cyclochila australasiae, Green Grocer Cicada, Images from our garden
What a weird looking face
Cicada nymph shell
A while ago I found an empty ‘Cicada Nymph’ clinging on a lemon leaf. It was a nice surprise. I noticed lately that cicada season had come again this time since the last time we heard the noise (never remember exactly when). It was louder if the weather was hot, but they were not easy to spot. I was so curious to see what kind of cicadas they were. Many times when they were making noise, I came closer to find them, but I was never able to see them. Until two days ago when I was trimming the Duranta bush, I saw a large green insect. When I looked closely, I realized that it was a cicada. It was a ‘Green Grocer Cicada ( Cyclochila australasiae), a cicada species commonly found in eastern part of Australia.
It is true that many times in life, you will not find what you are looking for if you are deliberately searching for it. But when you are not looking at all, then suddenly it is there for you to see.
Green Grocer Cicada
Cicada si Gareng-Pung
06 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Wonderful Animals Tags: Cicada (Gareng-pung), Cicada Nymph Skin/Shell, Images from our garden
Barusan aku menemukan pupa cicada yang sudah kosong melekat didaun jeruk lemon. Memang akhir akhir ini terdengar suara cicada yang memekakkan telinga.. Didaerah Jawa, cicada dinamakan Gareng-pung sedang bahasa Sundanya adalah Tonggeret. Aku tak tahu apa bahasa Indonesia-nya.
Menurut info dari Australian Museum, diperkirakan terdapat lebih dari 200 species cicada di Australia. Cicada Australia yang termasuk dalam keluarga besar Cicadoidea ini hidup sekitar 6 sampai 7 tahun dibawah tanah dalam bentuk pupa (nymph). Sedangkan jenis lain yang berasal dari Amerika Utara bisa hidup dibawah tanah sampai 17 tahun lamanya. Selama hidup dibawah tanah pupa cicada ini bisa dibilang belum dewasa. Masa dewasa yang amat singkat sekitar 2 minggu itu terjadi setelah cicada tersebut keluar dari pupanya dalam bentuk lain yang mirip seperti jengkerik besar lengkap dengan sayapnya.
Dalam waktu hanya beberapa minggu, cicada dewasa harus berhasil menemukan pasangan untuk berkembang biak. Cicada jantan berlomba lomba menyanyi untuk menarik perhatian sang betina. Nyanyian ini yang terdengar melengking menusuk telinga, hanya disuarakan oleh cicada jantan dengan cara menggerakkan selaput (membrane) khusus yang terletak dibawah perut.
Cicada betina bertelur dicelah celah atau dibawah kulit dahan pohon dan telur menetas dalam bentuk pupa. Disaat pupa menetas kecil sekali ukurannya dan berjatuhan diatas tanah. Kemudian pupa pupa itu menyembunyikan diri dibalik dedaunan dan semak semak. Setelah cukup besar membuat lubang ditanah dan menghabiskan hampir seluruh masa hidupnya didalam jaluran lubang didalam tanah. Untuk hidup pupa pupa ini akan menghisap sari makanan dari akar akar tanamana didalam tanah. Masa dewasa yang hanya beberapa minggu untuk berkembang biak itu mengakhiri hidup salah satu dari semua mahluk ciptaan Tuhan yang begitu menakjubkan.
Saat ini sewaktu aku menulis blog ini, petang hari menjelang dan bisa kudengar ributnya suara Gareng Pung dipohon pir didepan rumah. Karena gelap dan rindangnya pohon, sulit untuk menemukannya.
Inilah link dari YouTube untuk melihat kehidupan si Gareng Pung:
Spring Garden 2010
03 Nov 2010 3 Comments
in 4. Seasonal Garden Notes Tags: Images from our garden, My garden, Spring Garden 2010
It rained so much lately. I notice that some of my roses have developed black spots on the leaves. It is obvious that too much moisture from the rains have made the black spots spread. I got rid of the foliage with the spots and will not do anything else. Just wait and see. I will only spray if the problem persists.
What else? The yellow Genista racemosa is still blooming, but this year my ‘Green turns to Yellow’ Cymbidium Orchid refused to bloom. I don’t know why, but I think it is because I divided the plant too late. I divided it into three. Hopefully they will bloom next season. As with my Orchid cacti, the Chiapasia nelsonii (Epiphyllum nelsonii) is still blooming while the others are still in buds. The yellow Epiphyllum that I bought earlier this year has finished flowering.
The water lilies have waken up from their winter sleep and now they have grown many leaves and few flower buds. I like to see how the goldfishes are peering from underneath the lily leaves when I come near……their open mouths are poking out near the edges of the leaves. Just like dogs, they know how to beg for food. Ha….
I am going to post some of the photos that I took in the last few days. It was a surprise when the other day I saw a green Katydid insect among the camellia leaves. I was lucky to have a chance to make few shots before it eventually flew off.
Green Katydid
Goldfish and Water Lily
Yellow Rose - Unknown variety
Peace Rose
Rhapsody in Blue - Purple climbing rose
Peruvian Lilies
Pink Mesembryanthemum (Pigface)
Purple Mesembryanthemum (Pigface)
Yellow Mesembryanthemum (Pigface)
Gazania
Strelitzia reginae - Bird of Paradise
Purple Bearded Iris
Today is nice, cool and sunny and it is perfect to go out there and to do something in the garden. I am thinking of getting rid of the weeds in the garden bed. It is still too wet to mow the lawn. I better post this….. Happy Gardening :o)
Link to go to my previous notes on my garden:
http://kiyanti2008.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/august-around-the-garden/
