They look a bit like cockroaches, with bulging orange eyes, and trillions of them are about to erupt from the earth in many parts of the Midwest and East. The appearance of the two groups of cicadas will set off a chorus of insects not seen for hundreds of years, experts say.
The simultaneous appearance of two flocks of cicadas, known as Brood XIX and Brood XII, is a rare event that hasn't happened since 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States. “I'm really excited. I've been looking forward to this for years,” said Katherine Dana, an entomologist specializing in cicadas at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “It's going to be a really special experience for the public.”
There are thousands of species of cicadas around the world, but only 10 are thought to be periodic. Cicada larvae have a life cycle in which they live underground, feed on plant sap for many years, and then emerge en masse above ground.
This year, Brood XIX, the largest of all periodic cicada groups, will be seen emerging after a 13-year dormancy underground, at the same time as Brood XII, a smaller group that emerges every 17 years . The outbreak could occur as early as this month in the spring in some places, bringing trillions of cicadas to bear in up to 16 states, from Maryland to Oklahoma and Illinois to Alabama.
This phenomenon, known as “semigeddon'' or “semipalooza,'' is the appearance of huge swarms of cicadas in urban and rural areas, where the insects make considerable noise. Collectively, their cries can be louder than a spinning motorcycle. . After frenzied calls, mating, and predation by natural enemies, the cicada begins the cycle again in his July month.
The two chicks may overlap only slightly in a small area of ​​central Illinois. That means it's unlikely there will be an above-normal population spike in one place, but researchers say all seven of her periodic species found in Illinois have appeared. The United States will be in the spotlight in many places, offering rare glimpses of spectacular ecological scenery.
“I want to remind people that this is a natural wonder of the world. You won't see this kind of terrestrial biomass anywhere else,” Dana said. There are several theories as to why cicadas behave this way, but the most common one is that due to the overwhelming proliferation of cicadas, significant numbers are surviving predators and producing the next generation. There is.
As some Americans plan trips to see cicada-infested areas, insect haters are wondering whether to flee from the onslaught. However, cicadas do not cause any harm to people or pets. Insects have mouths that resemble straws rather than biting parts. However, some cicadas have been shown to spray urine when threatened.
As with most interactions between humans and the natural world, humans pose the greater threat. Cicadas choose to explode above ground when the soil temperature reaches a certain temperature (usually around 17 degrees Celsius), but global warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels is disrupting this natural process. There is a possibility.
“This can disrupt their phenology. If they come out earlier than usual, that can be a problem for them,” Dana said.
For now, onlookers can enjoy this rare outburst of nature in gardens and public spaces. “Stay calm and be in awe of the sight,” advised John Cooley, a cicada expert at the University of Connecticut who tracks the emergence. “It's almost over. Now think about where you'll be in 13 years, or 17 for him. It's time for some introspection.”