David Attenborough's Life Stories

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Factual: Pets & Animals

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world

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Julian Hector

David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2: Cicada

Cicada

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - David Attenborough's Life Stories, Series 2, Cicada

David Attenborough reveals the life of insects that emerge from the earth every 17 years.

David Attenborough talks about Cicadas, strumming insects that fill the evening air across the world with sound. From 2011.

One of the great wild sounds of North America is the purring of insects in the evening, especially that of Cicadas, one of the great stridulating sounds in the wild. 

This is the tale of one Cicada; the 17-year periodic Cicada that stunned the community in New England 13 years after the Pilgrim Fathers had landed. There was a plague of insects, all with red eyes on stalks - and all emerging continuously out of the soil. 

When the plague subsided a few weeks later the people of Plymouth Rock were braced for another onslaught, but nothing happened until 17 years later.

Sir David Attenborough recalls a filming trip to New England to film this species of Cicada with both fascinating natural history and a hilarious twist. 

Written and presented by David Attenborough

Producer:  Julian Hector

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2011.

David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2

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