NEW DELHI: As spring unfolds, certain regions of the United States are bracing for a natural spectacle as billions of
cicadas
are set to emerge from the ground and fill the air with their distinctive buzzing. This event, which occurs periodically every 13 or 17 years depending on the brood, will see these red-eyed
insects
taking over beaches, cities, and forests across multiple states, creating a buzz both literally and metaphorically.
Here is all you need to know about upcoming swarm:
What are cicadas?
Cicadas are insects known for their prominent eyes, clear wings, and large bodies, ranging from 1 to 2 inches long. They are famous for their loud choruses, which are actually mating calls produced by males. There are over 3,000 cicada species worldwide, but the periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years in the US are particularly well-known.
Why do cicadas emerge in such large numbers?
Cicadas spend most of their life cycle underground, feeding on sap from tree roots. After 13 or 17 years, they emerge almost simultaneously in vast numbers. This strategy, known as
predator satiation
, ensures that enough cicadas survive predation to reproduce, despite being an easy target for their natural predators.
What happens when cicadas emerge?
When the soil temperature reaches about 64 degrees Fahrenheit, cicadas begin to emerge, typically at night. They climb the nearest available vertical surface, shed their exoskeletons, and mature into adults. Males then start their loud singing to attract females for mating.
Do cicadas pose any danger?
Cicadas are harmless to humans and do not bite or sting. However, their mass emergence can be a nuisance due to their loud mating calls and large numbers. While they don't cause harm to mature trees, young trees may be damaged when females lay their eggs in small branches.
What is unique about cicada urination?
Cicadas are notable for their impressive urination capabilities. They ingest and expel large amounts of fluid to maintain their hydration and nutrient balance, which can result in a phenomenon known as "cicada rain," where their excreted fluid can be mistaken for light rainfall.
How do cicadas impact other wildlife?
The emergence of cicadas can benefit many predator species due to the abundance of easy prey. Additionally, when birds and other predators focus on cicadas, it can reduce predation pressure on other species, such as caterpillars, leading to temporary boosts in their populations.
Can cicadas become zombies?
Yes, a phenomenon known as "zombie cicadas" occurs when they are infected by a certain type of fungus. This
fungus
manipulates the cicadas' behavior for its own reproductive advantage, eventually leading to the cicadas' death after maximizing spore dissemination.
There's a deadly sexually transmitted disease, a fungus, that turns cicadas into zombies and causes their private parts to fall off, said John Cooley, a University of Connecticut entomologist.
It's a real problem that “is even stranger than science fiction,” Cooley told AP. “This is a sexually transmitted zombie disease.”
Cooley has seen areas in the Midwest where up to 10% of the individuals were infected.
The fungus is also the type that has hallucinatory effects on birds that would eat them, Cooley said.
This white fungus takes over the male, their gonads are torn from their body and chalky spores are spread around to nearby other cicadas, he said. The insects are sterilized, not killed. This way the fungus uses the cicadas to spread to others.
“They're completely at the mercy of the fungus,” Cooley said. “They're walking dead.”
(With inputs from agencies)
English (US) ·