The Early Bird Got the Cicada, Then an Evolutionary Air War Started – The New York Times

Today, few critters are as abundant as cicadas. Thousands of different cicada species are found throughout the world, and some even periodically emerge by the trillions.

But the prehistoric world was not crawling with periodical swarms. The cicadas of the late Jurassic Period which had bulkier bodies than today s bugs and wingspans that eclipsed those of modern hummingbirds were relatively scarce. And they were under attack from a new predator with feathery wings, claws and a toothy beak.

Early birds posed a fearsome threat. But as they responded to these competitors, cicadas evolved sleeker and more powerful wings, according to a paper published on Friday in the journal Science Advances.

via www.nytimes.com

Those darn cicadas. Always evolving.

Jack Tamisiea.