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Get ready for an insect phenomenon that has been 17 years in the making. Temperatures are almost warm enough for parts of the eastern United States to start seeing the emergence of Brood XIV periodical cicadas. After spending nearly two decades underground, these cicadas are set to emerge in droves, creating a spectacle that will be both seen and heard.
Brood XIV, the second-largest periodical cicada brood, last emerged in 2008. Since that time, the nymphs have been living underground, feeding on tree root sap and biding their time until their next emergence.
Depending on the location, the emergence is expected to begin in mid-May and last through late June, according to the University of Connecticut. The trigger for their appearance is soil temperature reaching 64 degrees Fahrenheit, 8 inches beneath the ground.
Cicada nymphs first create exit tunnels in the ground and then emerge, searching for something to climb like a tree or a fence. Then they molt, allowing the adult cicadas to emerge. The males then begin singing to attract the females. After being active for several weeks, the females lay their eggs, the adults die, and the nymphs return underground to wait until their next emergence, over a decade later.
"That noise level can get up to a hundred decibels," Dr. Jim Fredericks with the National Pest Management Association told AccuWeather. "The sound of a passing jet plane, the sound of a lawnmower - this is really loud because it's literally hundreds of thousands or millions of individuals singing at the exact same time."
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...soon-emerge-is-your-state-on-the-list/1758706
Brood XIV, the second-largest periodical cicada brood, last emerged in 2008. Since that time, the nymphs have been living underground, feeding on tree root sap and biding their time until their next emergence.
Depending on the location, the emergence is expected to begin in mid-May and last through late June, according to the University of Connecticut. The trigger for their appearance is soil temperature reaching 64 degrees Fahrenheit, 8 inches beneath the ground.
Cicada nymphs first create exit tunnels in the ground and then emerge, searching for something to climb like a tree or a fence. Then they molt, allowing the adult cicadas to emerge. The males then begin singing to attract the females. After being active for several weeks, the females lay their eggs, the adults die, and the nymphs return underground to wait until their next emergence, over a decade later.
Brood XIV are expected to emerge this year in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
The last time this brood emerged was in 2008, making their cyclical return a highly anticipated event for entomologists and nature enthusiasts alike."That noise level can get up to a hundred decibels," Dr. Jim Fredericks with the National Pest Management Association told AccuWeather. "The sound of a passing jet plane, the sound of a lawnmower - this is really loud because it's literally hundreds of thousands or millions of individuals singing at the exact same time."
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weat...soon-emerge-is-your-state-on-the-list/1758706
