After 17 years underground, billions of periodic cicadas – a type of flying cicada – are preparing to emerge in the United States with the aim of mating after their maturation cycle is complete. As a claim to love, they make a deafening noise that, in decibels, is comparable to that of a powerful motorcycle. The phenomenon, slated to begin by the end of the week, will be particularly noticeable on the east coast of the United States from Tennessee to New York.
The insects belong to a group called Brood X (Generation X) in English – also known as “the great generation of the East” – although only the males stridulate or screech in search of a female. This sound is the pairing song for which they have a drum-like organ called a timpani play. After 17 years of feeding and growing underground, the chorus of billions of cicadas chirping in unison will provide a special soundtrack for parks and gardens in the coming days.
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Insect invasion
“An invasion is coming. Billions of cicadas will pop up this spring, ”warns the Twitter account of the National Mall or National Esplanade, the vast expanse of Washington Gardens that is home to some of the most famous monuments attacked by loud insects.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a campaign on social networks to prevent the population from spraying insecticides as they can affect other living things. “Cicadas are harmless. They are a nutritious source of food for other animals. Ignore them. You won’t be here forever, “says the government agency. Periodic cicadas that do not bite or attack humans usually live on the surface for just over a month.
Very fascinating
Periodic cicadas are fascinating because of their long maturation period and the accuracy with which they emerge every 17 years. According to Daniel Gruner, associate professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, studies have shown that they can sense cycles of time because they are connected to the roots of trees. The movement of the root fluid slows down in winter and accelerates during the growing season. “However, we don’t know how they follow the years one after the other,” Gruner continues until he is 17 years old. He points out that the timing is not perfect as there are some ahead of us.
The expert clarifies that the use of pesticides is not justified as a hypothetical remedy, as cicadas “are not pests, do not bite or transmit pathogens or damage crops or property”. Spraying, he adds, only increases health risks for humans and other animals.
University of Connecticut entomologist John Cooley argues that their hatching is an opportunity to enlighten yourself rather than waiting for their arrival in fear: “We can learn more about our forests; understanding how they work is key to living sustainably within them. “
While they haven’t come out en masse, it’s not uncommon to find some exoskeletons already in the doorways of homes or to hear the click as they get squashed during a distracted walk around Washington. Two of the factors that cause them to leak underground are moisture and warm temperatures. The ideal warmth is an earth at 18 degrees. “We had a cold spell and that seems to have slowed the process down a lot,” says Cooley, who foresees the final hatch to take place next week.
Active reproductive cycle
Cicadas spend most of their lives underground feeding on tree roots before tunneling to the surface. Once they are outside, usually in green spaces, they head towards the trees en masse. Females lay between 400 and 600 eggs on thin branches that they pierce with a series of pricks.
The invasion of these insects will be a great festival for spiders and other predators such as mice, birds or snakes. According to the people who tried them, they taste similar to tofu. There are several subspecies of periodic leafhoppers with different life cycles and swarm volumes. The generation now emerging on the east coast, Brood X, is the longest-lived and one of those who hatch en masse.
The phenomenon usually lasts around 40 days. Given that the buzz a swarm of men emits to attract women can reach 90 decibels, the presence of these insects is changing the daily lives of citizens. The ear is exposed to sounds that are as loud (and annoying) as those of a construction.
Really annoying
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 minutes of exposure to the sound of a motorcycle can damage your hearing. Many citizens choose to stay in their homes during this particular phenomenon. However, this is the first time in 14 months of experiencing restrictions on movement due to the coronavirus. Therefore, it is not known whether the desire to go outdoors or the disruptive presence occur to be able to increase.
They die within a month of being on the surface. When the males’ buzz affects the females, they have mated, leaving large quantities of eggs in the branches of the trees. In late summer or early fall, a new generation will go underground to feed on tree roots. Gruner argues, “We should enjoy this event for the amazing natural spectacle it is before going underground for another 17 years.”
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