According to an ecologist, a double cicada invasion could end up utterly covering certain US parts.
Cicada Double Invasion
Cicadas are a family of over 3,000 insect species that produce sound. They can be found in temperate and tropical areas worldwide and may occur in forests, grasslands, and deserts.
These medium-to-large bugs can span two to five centimeters. Their antennae are characteristically short, while they also have two pairs of transparent membranous wings, three simple triangle-forming eyes, and prominent compound eyes. They do not sting or bite.
The invasion of cicadas, which has been long-anticipated, has already started. The insects have been emerging from their southeast broods.
These bugs have been seen surrounding trees across Charlotte, North Carolina. They are expected to become more common in the days to come.
This so-called cicada invasion is allegedly caused by two broods that typically live beneath the ground and emerge simultaneously.
Some US Parts Could Be Left Utterly Covered
According to James Loving Lichtenstein, an assistant biology professor and evolutionary ecologist from Sacred Heart University, these bugs could utterly cover the state of Illinois. They may cover much of Arkansas and Missouri. He adds that they may show up across southwest Michigan, eastern Iowa, the western end of the Carolinas, and in northern Alabama and Georgia.
Though these bugs have been emerging recently, the ecologist notes that they have actually been around always. Lichtenstein explains that cicadas have always been present, dwelling beneath the surface and taking in sap from the roots of trees. All of these bugs that live underground and feed on roots emerge during the summer to look for mates and carry the cycle.
Periodical cicadas are quite special because they emerge simultaneously every 17 or 13 years, depending on the exact species. Since they tend to appear together, they usually do so in huge numbers.
This is believed to overwhelm predators, as they are unable to eat everyone. Lichtenstein explains that the need for predation avoidance could be the reason why these bugs surface in swarms. Cicadas have been pulling off such a feat for millions of years. Massive groups of cicadas emerge over these massive areas simultaneously. These are known as broods.
The phenomenon of two broods emerging at once has not been seen in roughly two centuries.
Before emerging, these broods of cicadas typically develop beneath the ground for several years. When they make their way above the surface, they typically stay for roughly a month and then reproduce.
Periodical cicadas are North American natives. They usually emerge every 13 to 17 years.
Lichtenstein says these bugs do not pose any risks to humans, though the sight of these cicadas emerging at once could be quite unsettling. However, the invasion could lead to damage, especially to trees.
The ecologist says that they produce tiny cuts on twigs for egg-laying. This could be a nuisance for mature trees and a threat to small ones. People who dwell in the areas of these broods may want to use some insect netting to cover some newly planted trees. Efforts to poison them may not work, as survivors would just end up showing in the place of others.
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