Billions of cicadas to converge as two distinct broods unite in Midwest

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

WHILE WINTER WEATHER HAS BEEN GRIPPING THE NATION IN RECENT WEEKS – A DIFFERENT KIND OF STORM IS HEADED OUR WAY THIS SUMMER. 

AN IMMINENT NATURAL PHENOMENON – CICADAS. 

THESE RESILIENT INSECTS – KNOWN FOR THEIR INCESSANT BUZZING – AREN’T JUST A NUISANCE…IT TURNS OUT THEY HOLD A CRUCIAL ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE.  

AND THIS YEAR — TWO MASSIVE CICADA GROUPS WILL EMERGE TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1803 — BRINGING BILLIONS CENTER STAGE. 

ALLEN LAWRENCE | ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF ENTOMOLOGY, PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM

Starting in late May, through about mid-June, that’s when they’ll be up above the ground, singing  very loudly, buzzing about. 

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

ACCORDING TO THE EPA CICADAS PLAY A VITAL ROLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. EXPERTS SAY THEY CONTRIBUTE IN SEVERAL WAYS. THEY AERATE SOIL, IMPROVING SOIL STRUCTURE AND NUTRIENT ABSORPTION BY PLANT ROOTS. THEY’RE ALSO A TASTY SNACK – FOR BIRDS AND MAMMALS. 

THEIR DEATH – BEYOND SILENCING THEIR BUZZ – ENRICHES THE SOIL, BENEFITING PLANT GROWTH.

ERIC BENSON | EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

The damage that they do to plants, for the most part, is minimal. They don’t hurt pets. They’ve been doing it since again before recorded time. They’re a great indicator of biodiversity and environmental health in an area. So I personally obviously I’m a bug nerd, but I think it’s a good thing when they emerge and do their things and it’s pretty special.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

IN ALL 15 STATES WILL BE IMPACTED. REGIONS WILL BUZZ WITH ACTIVITY FOR NEARLY TWO MONTHS AS CICADAS FLY AROUND, MATE, AND LAY EGGS. AFTER THIS PERIOD, THE ADULTS WILL DIE, AND THE OFFSPRING WILL RETURN UNDERGROUND, RESTARTING THEIR YEARS-LONG CYCLE.

ALLEN LAWRENCE | ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF ENTOMOLOGY, PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM

These cicadas have existed here long before we did. We’re really just kind of living on their land and we need to learn to live harmoniously. They’re not going to cause any damage, ruin our crops. So there’s really no need to be combative with them. Just appreciate them, and then they’ll kind of move on. 

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

SO THIS SUMMER – REMEMBER TO APPRECIATE THESE INSECTS AND RECOGNIZE THEIR UNIQUE ROLE IN NATURE — BECAUSE A PHENOMENON LIKE THIS WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 221 YEARS.