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The one-in-a-million blue-eyed cicada that a Crestwood woman found in the Orland Park Grasslands.
By Jeff Vorva
Kelly Simkins is an aspiring musician and someday she just might hit the stage and perform a Frank Sinatra song.
Meanwhile, the Crestwood resident is partnering with another “Ol Blue Eyes” for a little fame.
So, start spreading the news…
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Micahela Dunne, 7, of Palos Heights, is all smiles as she shows off a cicada she caught in Palos Heights. (Photo by Kelly White)
Simkins, who owns Merlin’s Rockin’ Pet Show, was in Orland Park looking for cicadas to feed the stars of her show and on May 20 – exactly 26 years after Sinatra was laid to rest – found a rare blue-eyed cicada at the Orland Grasslands.
It is said that blue-eyed cicadas are one-in-a-million.
“It was pure luck,” she said of her find. “I was looking for cicadas to feed my reptiles. I had about 200 that day and he stuck out. When I saw his eyes, I Googled it, and they said it was one in a million and I did the math and it is.”
Simkins has been on a mission throughout May to find the cicadas and had even hunted them down at 3 a.m. on certain days.
She does seek them out at various venues because she doesn’t like using the cicadas close to home.
“I don’t collect cicadas around my house because people fertilize the lawn and it could be deadly to my animals if they eat them,” she said. “I had only been to Orland twice, but I go to different forest preserves. Orland is easier for me because I don’t have to go into the woods.”
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Conor Alkofer, 7, of Palos Heights, shows that he is not afraid of cicadas. (Photo by Kelly White)
Her pet show features pythons, parrots, geckos, tarantulas and even hissing cockroaches.
“It’s a travelling business with all of these animals that I have had for years,” Simkins said. “My boyfriend plays music for the show – animal songs.”
She plans on pinning the blue-eyed cicada and putting it in a display case with the travelling show.
And, yes, Simkins has sampled cicadas.
“I’ve tried them myself – they are pretty good,” she said. “I know people think that’s gross but other people enjoy them, too.”
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Hundreds of hungry cicadas march up the trunk of this tree in Palos Heights. (Photo by Kelly White)
