Periodic cicadas do not appear every spring, but when they emerge, they come in large numbers, buzzing and chirping. Trillions of these bead-like insects are expected to appear in several U.S. states this year.this is you You need to know about cicadas.
periodic cicada
There are two types of periodic cicadas: cicadas that occur every 13 years and cicadas that occur every 17 years. They appear in broods labeled with Roman numerals.
In 2024, two chicks Brood XIX with a 13-year cycle and Brood XIII with a 17-year cycle will appear. According to research from the University of Connecticut, these two animals have not been lined up since 1803.
Brood XIX occurs in parts of the Midwest and Southeast, while Brood XIII is primarily found in Illinois.
Cicada expert Matthew Casson told CBS News that cicadas emerge from the ground when the soil reaches 64 degrees. So while cicadas in South Carolina may emerge in April as temperatures begin to warm up, cicadas in cooler climates like the upper Midwest may not emerge until June.
In 2024, it is expected to occur in May or early June, depending on location, said Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois.
How long do cicadas live on the ground?
Cicadas spend most of their lives underground, coming out at the end of a 13- or 17-year cycle. Once they emerge, their job is to reproduce.
Male cicadas start singing loudly to attract mates. This is why the presence of cicadas is accompanied by a loud droning sound. They begin this process about four to five days after they emerge, Johnson said.
The female flaps her wings sends a signal to the male that wants to matesaid Casson.
Females lay eggs on woody plants using their ovipositor, or egg-laying organ, and inject about 10 to 20 eggs into branches. A female can lay about 500 to 600 eggs, Johnson said.
The eggs hatch about six weeks after being laid, and the babies fall to the ground and eventually burrow into the soil, where they remain for 13 to 17 years.
However, their parents die immediately after the mating process and they last only about a month on land.
Are cicadas dangerous?
At the same time as the appearance of trillions of bugs Although they may look apocalyptic from the ground, cicadas pose no threat to humans or other animals.
However, once they emerge, they molt, leaving behind a hard exoskeleton. And when they die, Johnson says, they can smell like a car accident.
Wild animals such as birds and snakes may eat cicadas, but there is usually no danger in doing so. Pets may also eat them.
“They are not toxic to pets. They will not sting or bite your pet,” says Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez of Family Pets Veterinary Hospital. recently told CBS Chicago. “The only problem for pets is if they ingest a large amount of the exoskeleton, or in the case of small dogs, eat part of the exoskeleton. In some cases, it can severely irritate the gastrointestinal tract. There is a possibility.”
Johnson cautions against using insecticides to keep cicadas away from plants. Pesticides are ineffective, and the animals that eat the cicadas may be harmed by the chemicals.
Can you eat cicadas?
What humans can also do is eat cicadassays Johnson. It is best eaten as an adult after molting and before the exoskeleton hardens. People who are allergic to shellfish avoid eating Cicada.
There are also cicadas.However, it is possible to become infected sexually transmitted fungi called Massospora cicada, Casson told CBS News. It is unclear how this fungus affects organisms that feed on infected cicadas.
This fungus occupies one-third of the cicada's body and replaces it with a chalky plug. Their reproductive organs fall off and they become extremely sexual, even though they are no longer capable of reproduction.
These so-called “zombie cicadas” continue their normal daily lives despite being taken over by the fungus, Casson said.
“We know that many animals, including snakes and birds, prey on emerging cicadas. Could this be affecting the animals that eat the cicadas? Yes, it is possible.” , he said less than 5% of cicadas are infected with the fungus, and researchers have not yet observed effects on other wildlife.
What do cicadas eat?
Cicadas use trees and bushes for nutrition. They drill holes into small twigs and extract minerals and some carbohydrates from the plant's water, according to experts at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Mr Johnson regularly advises against planting new trees before the cicadas emerge, as they can damage the trees. If you have small trees or shrubs, you can put netting around them to keep out cicadas. However, make sure the opening is no larger than 1/4 inch so bugs can't get in.
Are cicadas locusts?
Contrary to popular belief, cicadas are not “plague locusts.” They are also not locusts, which are known for eating plants.
“There's really no need to worry. Cicadas are not leaf-shedding insects and have nothing to do with grasshoppers,” said Sandy Liebhold, a research entomologist at the Forest Service's Northern Research Station in Morgantown, West Virginia. says. “They don't eat your plants, vegetables, or even the leaves of your trees. They only emerge to mate and lay eggs.”
According to Purdue University, most of the trees that cicadas eat are safe.