Did you know that cicadas have five eyes?

Dana Nesiti captured a super-closeup of this cicada and described where its eyes are.

The three orange eyes in the center of the forehead are simple (like ours) with only one lens. The big eyes on each side of the head are compound with multiple lenses.

Why do cicadas have all this equipment? 

“The better to see you with, my dear.”

p.s. What species of cicada is this?  I don’t know but it’s probably one of western Pennsylvania’s common annual cicadas. Here’s a list of four common ones with links to the sounds they make:  What’s That Sound? Cicadas

(photo by Dana Nesiti posted on his Facebook page)