Rare Cicada Broods to Blanket US Regions with Swarms

Prepare for an upcoming natural phenomenon as rare broods of periodical cicadas emerge this spring across multiple US states including Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis. The insects will blanket eastern parts of the country with billions to trillions of flying bugs, which some view as a breathtaking spectacle while others see it as an annoyance. Unlike similar events in most years when these bugs appear alone, this year’s emergence is significant because two broods are coinciding for the first time since 1803: Brood XIII (Northern Illinois), which spends seventeen years underground and was last spotted during Bill Clinton’s presidency; and Great Southern Brood XIX, whose thirteen-year lifecycle takes place predominantly in the south. This concurrence is unlikely to happen again until 2245. Cicada sightings will initially reveal small holes on the ground around tree roots indicating that cicadas are getting ready to burst out of their underground homes when soil reaches approximately sixty-four degrees Fahrenheit (17.8°C). Once aboveground, nymphs will clamber toward any vertical object available– mainly trees– in pursuit for fresh air before casting off and drying its shell to become flying adults who will feed, mate and reproduce until it lasts roughly four weeks after the cacophonous emergence. Cicadas produce an audible hum as they gather around tree trunks while male insects form a deafening chorus of thousands in pursuit for mates. Female periodical cicadas utilize ovipositors to lay eggs inside slits on tree branches; however, this isn’t damaging because it does not hurt the plant or trees when done sparingly as it is merely loosing and aerating soil during tunneling which they die after becoming nutrients for soils. Cicadas provide a feast for many animals including pets but humans with seafood allergies should avoid consuming cicada species since it’s distantly related to crustaceans such as shrimps, lobsters and others in that family tree; some pet owners may experience health issues after their furry friends indulge themselves on these bugs. The emergence of this brood might provide a fascinating chance for the community to contribute to ongoing cicada studies using various citizen science applications or other digital means whilst experiencing first-hand what researchers see as an exceptional and mysterious natural occurrence that has been around since ancient times; moreover, being acquainted with bugs not typically noticed within suburbs also demonstrates an awe-inspiring view of nature. Although some individuals might have cicadaphobia (fear or dislike for these insects), staying indoors during this occurrence would suffice whilst one may instead prefer timing trips out to minimize possible bug encounters as they are incredibly abundant and fly around people, getting caught in hair strands.