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This Year, These bugs Will Resurface In 15 States


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These bugs have been underground for 17 years. This year, they'll resurface in 15 states.

Keith MathenyGeorgea Kovanis
Detroit Free Press      Updated   Jan.26, 2021
 
Billions of cicadas are expected to invade several states this spring. On the list: Michigan.
 

DETROIT – It’s an underground movement now, but it will be all the buzz this spring and summer.

This year will mark the re-emergence after 17 years of Brood X, or the Great Eastern Brood, of periodical cicadas – those large, winged, kind of scary-looking but mostly harmless flying insects known for their almost deafening buzz.

“The end of May through June, it can get pretty loud – if you are in an area where they are numerous, there can be hundreds of thousands, or millions, of them,” said Howard Russell, an entomologist (insect scientist) at Michigan State University.

One of the largest broods of periodical cicadas in the nation, Brood X will emerge this spring in 15 states: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, as well as Washington D.C.

Unlike greenish, annual cicadas, periodical cicadas are known for their black bodies and bold, red eyes. Their mass, in-unison emergence every 17 years is one of nature’s great mysteries.  

But the bugs haven’t been in hibernation since their last mass appearance in 2004.

“They are always there, that’s what people don’t realize,” said John Cooley, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut who studies periodical cicadas.

The cicadas live underground in wingless nymph form, about a foot or two down, feeding on sap from tree roots – “and that’s where they feed for 17 years,” Russell said.

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How do they all know when to resurface?

Most cicadas don’t have fixed periods of development like this. When they reach adulthood, away they go, as individuals or small groups.

But with periodical cicadas, after 17 years underground, on just the right spring day, when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit, the nymphs, all together, burrow their way to the surface and make their mass emergence, Russell said.

“They climb up on the nearest thing they can find, and molt for the final time,” he said. “At that time they are white – their exoskeleton hasn’t hardened yet. That takes five or six days. Then the adult is ready to look for a mate.”

Why they aren't triggered to do this in, say, the 15th or 16th spring isn't fully understood.

“No one knows what mechanism they use to trigger their mass emergence,” Russell said.

From underground, periodical cicadas have some method of counting the number of times deciduous trees – the kind that lose their leaves in the winter – regrow their leaves, Cooley said.

“The cicadas come out after the ‘right’ number,” he said. “Whatever the specific change is, the cicadas can detect that.”

The bugs will even, in unison, postpone their emergence for a day or two if the weather is rainy or otherwise uncooperative, he said.

That telltale Brood X buzzing noise are the males up in trees, trying to attract a female.

“If you go along the Wabash River Valley, on the Illinois-Indiana border, they have all three species there at the same time,” he said. “The noise is just head-splitting.”

After mating, female periodical cicadas will lay eggs in soft, new twigs, using a sharp organ called an ovipositor to cut into the branches and place her fertilized eggs inside. This can kill young branches, making the periodical cicada swarm more harmful for tree nurseries and orchards.

“You can’t spray enough pesticide to kill them all without also wiping out everything else in the environment,” Cooley said.  

The solution is to put nets or bags over trees for the period of time the cicadas are active, until around the start of July, he said.

A newly emerged Brood X 17-year cicada.
 

Laid eggs hatch in six to 10 weeks, with the tiny nymphs falling to the ground, burrowing in, and starting the 17-year cycle again.

Aside from being loud – their sound is a cross between a buzz and a rattle – the cicadas really won't do any major damage. They aren't drawn indoors. They don't bite. 

"While they may cause cosmetic damage to trees when laying their eggs, cicadas actually provide a number of benefits to nature," Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Association, said in a statement.

And you can eat them, too

If you're so inclined, cicadas can even make a low-fat, high-protein snack. Dried cicadas provide a crunch with a nutty, earthy taste, according to those who've tried it. In their softer form, before their exoskeletons harden, others say the cicadas are shrimp-like. A group at the University of Maryland even published a periodical cicada cookbook entitled Cicada-licious, featuring recipes for dishes such as Cicada Dumplings, Emergence Cookies and El Chirper tacos.

Periodical cicadas have seen some retraction of their habitat.

“They seem to be sensitive to habitat degradation,” Cooley said. “I think they are going to be very susceptible to climate change.”

The question Cooley gets the most whenever the periodical cicadas’ re-emerge is how to kill them, he said.

“The answer is, ‘Don’t,’" he said. "They are one of our natural wonders. Enjoy them while you have them.”                                                                                                                                                                                        SEE VIDEO   ;     https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/01/26/17-year-cicadas-coming-to-michigan/4250507001/

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Billions of cicadas emerge this Spring, phenomenon only happens every 17 years

by: Peyton Kennedy

Posted:  / Updated: 
 

REGIONAL, Pa. (WTAJ) — Billions of cicadas are expected to emerge in early May and will cover land across fifteen states. This volume of cicadas is something we’ll only experience a handful of times in our life.

“You might see them, if you’re lucky, four to five times in your life,” said Jared Gregory Ali, assistant professor of entomology at Penn State University. “Enjoy it, appreciate it, and use it as a teaching moment.”

There are annual cicadas, which we can see every year, and there are periodical cicadas, which live underground for 13 or 17 years and mass emerge in broods. This year, our southern area including central Blair and Huntingdon counties will experience Brood X, 17 year periodical cicadas.

“Brood X, the emergence that’s happening this year, is the largest of all of the broods or emergences, so it’s a big deal,” said Michael J. Skvarla, assistant research professor of arthropod identification at Penn State University.

The cicadas come out in groups as a defense against predators.

“If you and a million of your friends all come out at the same time, there are only so many birds and mammals that can eat you, and so those predators get satiated and then they’re full,” said Skvarla. “So, everyone who doesn’t get eaten is free to mate and lay eggs.”

Your experience with cicadas may depend on what type of environment you live in.

“If you live near woods where there’s lots of cicadas gonna be around, it can be extremely loud to the point of being almost deafening,” said Skvarla.

The song you’ll hear them singing is a male’s mating call.

They’ll be around for about four weeks while they mate, lay eggs within the wood of trees, and then die off. Large trees can handle the cicadas, but smaller trees may die from the damages.

“If you are thinking about putting trees in this year maybe it’s a good year to not do that, just wait for the fall, or wait till next year, just avoid it all together,” said Skvarla.

If you recently planted small trees or seedlings, Skvarla recommends covering them with a net, so the cicadas can’t get to them.

The professors say spraying pesticides won’t make a long term impact, as new cicadas can fly over and populate the previously clear area.

“We ought to start fostering more respect and awe for this really unique thing,” said Ali.          SEE VIDEO REPORT     ;      https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/regional-news/billions-of-cicadas-emerge-this-spring-phenomenon-only-happens-every-17-years/

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Cicadas expected to be fish 'filet mignon' in Pennsylvania

AP
Updated: 2:18 PM EDT Apr 17, 2021
 
 
 
ERIE, Pa. (AP) —

Anglers are expecting a fisherman's paradise toward the end of May in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Brood X cicadas are expected to emerge after a 17-year slumber and the high-protein insects are delicious food for a variety of fish.

Eric Hussar of Lewisburg, a commissioner with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, is looking forward to the cicada hatch. He said you can catch trout and bass with these insects. "Any type of predatory fish will eat them," Hussar said, recalling the last time he fished during an emergence of cicadas.

"It's like a steak to these fish. Like a big filet mignon. It's a pretty incredible sight to see," he said.

Hussar said during the peak there will be insects on the ground and in the trees and some will fall into the water. "It's a like a protein bar" for fish, he said.

He said sport shops that cater to fly fishermen should soon have a variety of imitation cicadas that anglers should be stocking up on in anticipation of the hatch. "It's a unique experience. ... You don't see this that often."

Hussar said the cicada flies should be fished similar to popper lures used on top of the water for bass.

For equipment, Hussar suggests 4, 5 or 6 weight fly rods with a heavy tippet. He said to drift your cicada fly where you see fish rising or where you think there will be fish in the water.

"Just give it a twitch," he said about moving the fly along the water. "They'll be chomping on them.

Hussar enjoys fly fishing on the Susquehanna while riding in a kayak to reach different parts of the river. He said the cicada hatch will be a good change-up from the flies that you see every year. "We're looking forward to it," he said about the several weeks long emergence.

"What makes this amazing is that fish are a master of efficiency," George Daniel said about fish enjoying the plentitude of bugs that will be available during this hatch. Daniel is the lead instructor of the fly fishing program at Penn State University and is a guide. He is a former member of the Team USA fly fishing team.

One of his favorite fish to catch is carp, and during this emergence carp will rise to catch the bugs. “Just because (of) how much protein is on the surface" (of the water), carp and catfish will rise to feed on them, Daniel said. "It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime fishing opportunity. Not only for trout but anything that eats what's in the water."

He said the fish can't get enough of these insects, and it can be some of the easiest and best times to catch a variety of fish.

Daniel suggests keeping fly patterns pretty simple and ones that are easy to replace. He also suggests anglers fish a little below the surface when fishing pressure increases. He believes a partially submerged fly can be one of the most productive ways to fish.

Daniel has recorded a video on YouTube that reveals his best three "must have" fly patterns for Brood X.

When will the emergence actually happen? Daniel said it depends on a lot of different factors including how soon the ground warms up. "Just be able to leave on a whim and be prepared," he said about planning a trip.

Daniel said an emergence like the one predicted will make anglers who are in their 40s or 60s want to live another 17 years for the next cicadas to emerge.

"In all honesty, this hatch could be amazing," Daniel said, while noting that cicadas emerge in different parts of the country and there are anglers who follow the hatch's location each year because the fishing is so good.

Ross Purnell, editor and publisher of Fly Fisherman magazine based in Harrisburg, said Daniel is a master fly fisher and to follow his advice. Purnell also said flies made by Blane Chocklett are great cicada imitations to use during the emergence.

Purnell said fly fishermen are interested in following hatches and it's the same with cicadas. The excitement about this event is that "the fish become gluttons and get stuffed on these things."

Purnell said anglers should be thinking about larger fish such as largemouth and smallmouth bass and older trout and carp that are used to foraging for food sources.

He said the timing will be right when you hear the cicadas "roaring in the trees."

Purnell expects the good fishing to last until July and anglers shouldn't get too excited about when you first start seeing cicadas. "You need to give it a few weeks. The best fishing is when (cicadas) are mating and start to die."

He points out to fish near heavily forested areas with slower moving bodies of water that will keep the cicadas floating longer than faster currents. "The longer they are able to float, the better chance fish have to find them," he said.

The bugs have been lurking beneath the surface since 2004, feeding on sap from the roots of plants, according to Michael J. Raupp, emeritus professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, in an interview with USA TODAY.

Once they're mature, the "big brood" will emerge in 15 states where they'll spend two to four weeks in late May and early June "courting, mating, flying, driving people crazy, being eaten by everything," including humans like Raupp.

The adult cicadas will lay their eggs in trees, and the eggs will hatch 4 to 6 weeks later in more than a dozen states. The offspring will head back underground until 2038. They'll also be making quite a bit of noise. According to Raupp, cicadas can emit sounds between 80 and 100 decibels, equivalent to a low flying airplane or a lawn mower.

Periodical cicadas emerge in huge groups called broods. Twelve broods of cicadas emerge every seven years, and three broods emerge every 13 years, Raupp said.

Two broods appear to have gone extinct, including Brood XI, which was last observed in Connecticut in 1954. Almost every year somewhere in the country, a periodical brood will emerge.                                                                                                                                                   SEE VIDEO REPORT     ;    https://www.wtae.com/article/cicadas-expected-to-be-fish-filet-mignon-in-pennsylvania/36119826

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Cicadas are here: are they toxic for your pets?

by: Scott Madaus

Posted:  / Updated: 
 

(WTAJ) — We all know they look intimidating, but are cicadas harmful?

The short answer is no. However, with millions in our backyards, we should all keep an eye on our four-legged friends.

Heidi Mullendore, an Environmental Educator at Canoe Creek State Park said they are going to be making a lot of noise. Unlike some though, Mullendore is enjoying the spectacle of the cicada’s 17 years in the making.

Before they broke through the ground, the cicada larvae live underground for either 13 or 17 years.
And then when the ground warms up enough, those little babies crawl up trees and the adults emerge from their exoskeleton.

“It’s fully winged and they crawl up into the tree canopy to mate and lay eggs,” Mullendore said.

There are about a million and a half cicadas per acre. But don’t worry.

“They are not dangerous,” Mullendore said. “These bugs don’t bite. They are going to mate, lay eggs and die and a lot of them get eaten.”

Cicadas are nontoxic, so they will not be harmful if your pet eats one. But because of their hard exoskeleton, they might be hard to digest if too many are eaten.                                                                                                                       SEE VIDEO REPORT      ;    https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/local-news/cicadas-toxic-pets/

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