{"id":5067,"date":"2021-06-03T14:54:42","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T18:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/talk.talktotucker.com\/?p=5067"},"modified":"2021-06-03T14:54:44","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T18:54:44","slug":"the-cicadas-are-coming-everything-you-need-to-know-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/talk.talktotucker.com\/community\/the-cicadas-are-coming-everything-you-need-to-know-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cicadas Are Coming: Everything You Need to Know (and More)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s been 17 years since a particular type of cicada has been above ground, so you are forgiven if you don\u2019t remember what to expect when they emerge — and they\u2019re already starting the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to experts, this group of cicadas (dubbed \u201cBrood X\u201d) will generally start pushing their way through the ground in at least 15 states — including Indiana — when the soil temperatures hit 64 degrees, and the late spring rains will help that process along.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Can You Expect Once the Cicadas Emerge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When they first emerge from the ground where they\u2019ve been quietly feeding on plant sap for nearly two decades, the cicadas will be white. Soon, however, they\u2019ll shed their old skins and develop a distinctive yellow and black exoskeleton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While cicadas don\u2019t actually swarm, they do tend to gather in large groups around sources of shelter and nourishment, like trees, and that gives them a swarm-like appearance. Once you spot them, you can expect to see the cicadas for about six weeks<\/a>, as they court their mates, lay eggs and die — before their progeny fall from the trees and head back underground to repeat the cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folks, it\u2019s about to get loud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technically, only the males make noise as part of their mating call to females in the brood, but these anxious would-be suitors are capable of hitting the 100-decibel mark with the whirring, clicking and other vibrations in their \u201csong.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For comparison, that\u2019s about the same noise level you can expect from a motorcycle revving its engine or a low-flying plane overhead. Typically, the cicadas do all their singing during daylight hours, so they won\u2019t interrupt your sleep at night — but you may want to invest in earplugs if you work at home during the day or plan to spend much time outside for the next few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Are Some Areas Seeing More Cicadas Than Others?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you\u2019ve already seen a pile of cicadas emerging in your yard — but your neighbor hardly has any. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What gives? Well, several different factors can affect how many cicadas from Brood X emerge in any specific spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changes in the landscaping over the last 17 years, for example, could have deprived the burrowing cicadas of the nutrients they need to survive in one yard or another, reducing their population. Broad environmental changes and urbanization may also have reduced the number of cicadas that emerge this year — which is something that scientists are watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences in soil temperatures can also affect how fast the cicadas emerge. Parts of the midwest have had unseasonably cool temperatures — and that will signal to the cicadas that it\u2019s not quite the optimum time to start their hunt for a mate. Even something as simple as the number of trees your neighbor has in their yard could keep their soil cool longer and cause a delay in the cicadas\u2019 routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Mickey Mathis (@mickeymathisphotography)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>