Will the Epic Cicada Swarm Ruin Your Summer Vacation?
It’s a summer invasion of epic entomological proportions: the rare emergence of two different cicada broods across parts of the United States. The biological overlap only happens once every 221 years. Billions, if not trillions, of the insects will pop up from the ground, take to the trees, and kick off a wild mating frenzy expected to last weeks.While some folks are actually making travel plans to observe the natural spectacle, others might not be so keen about sharing their summer vacation with so many of the flying six-legged creatures. Here’s what you need to know about the bugs, where they’ll be, what to expect, and how to avoid them if you so choose.A Bit of Bug Background…Cicadas live long lives; the vast majority of that time is spent underground feeding on sap from tree roots. Two types of red-eyed critters will appear this summer: those known as Brood XIX, which rise from the ground after 13 years, and Brood XIII, which stay buried for 17 years. This summer, both broods will appear at the same time in the same place, an event that hasn’t occurred since 1803.Entomologists agree that 64 degrees Fahrenheit is the magic number for cicadas. Once the soil warms to that temperature, both sets of cicadas will start to appear, shed their exoskeletons, and take to the trees to mate en masse. Once that’s done, the females lay fertilized eggs in the bark that hatch, fall to the ground, and burrow underneath the soil to start the cycle all over again.While ridiculously loud (more on that in a moment!) and a bit clumsy, cicadas have no biting mechanism. So, they won’t cause serious harm, but certainly might gross you out or could interfere with outdoor activities including camping or cookouts.4nadia/iStockThe Center of the SwarmAcross much of the South and Midwest this summer, you’re not going to escape the cicadas. Brood XIX is appearing over a vast swath of land from Virginia through the Carolinas. They will also be seen in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Their older Brood XIII relatives will dig themselves free in Iowa and Wisconsin.The buggiest spot of all? Illinois.“This is year is especially incredible for Illinois because we have these two broods emerging simultaneously in the state,” explained Katie Dana, entomologist and affiliate with the Illinois Natural History Survey.“They start from the south to the north, we’ve seen them emerging and slowly making their way toward Chicago,” she said.Dana adds some spots in the brood overlap area, likely near the capital of Springfield, could see up to 1.5 million of the invertebrates in a single acre.A Sound Like No OtherYou’ll be certain the cicadas’ month-long speed dating session has begun when you start to hear a deep, low buzzing or humming noise up in the trees or around bushes. Male cicadas use an organ in their abdomen called a tymbal to click rapidly at the females in hopes of hooking up. A few wouldn’t be so loud, but when you multiply that noise by the millions, you’ve got quite the din.“It’s their version of Tinder, so they’re yelling, and they want to stay the loudest so a female answers them back,” said Tad Yankoski, an entomologist with the Missouri Botanical Garden.Cicadas at the height of mating season are extremely loud. Reaching a volume of up to 110 decibels, the communal buzzing can get as loud as a jet plane. The good news is you can plan to get some semblance of peace and quiet once the sun goes down, as the bugs button it up at night.chettarin/ShutterstockTips to Avoid, Embrace, and Stay SafeWhile some people might not appreciate the loud lovefest, others from around the world are coming to witness the cicada spectacle.“I’ve gotten so many emails from people coming to see this event,” added Dana. “There are people coming from Japan, Germany, Norway, all over the world, asking me where to go and where to see the cicadas. It is an event to behold.”While not usually harmful, you will want to take extra care on the roads if you’re traveling through an emergence zone. Consider a bug screen to prevent cicadas from clogging your car’s radiator grill and keep the top up and sunroof closed to prevent a possible divebomb from the clumsy fliers. It’s always good advice but especially so this summer to wear a helmet if you’re biking or on a motorcycle as a cicada hitting your head at speed might feel a bit like a paintball ping. And watch the roads: large groups of emerging cicadas can quickly become roadkill, making roadways slippery.If your travel plans include outdoor lodging or daytime activities in a known cicada hotspot, you can take precautions to make it a more pleasant experience if you’re not a fan of the critters.Consider using earplugs or even noise-canceling headphones if you’re hiking, biking, or picnicking in areas during the day where the insects are out in force. Wear a hat to prevent any chance encounters. Protect your gear with netting. And if you’re bringing your pup along with you, make sure they don’t munch down on too many of the bugs. Cicadas aren’t toxic (people around the world routinely eat them!) but they might cause stomach upset for a pet who overindulges.Finally, if you really want to avoid the bugs, consider shifting your plans or accommodations. Consult a brood map and simply steer clear of the emergence, or postpone your travels until the end of June or early July. If you’re already booked, all is not lost. Instead, the experts suggest you try to flip the script and lean into the experience.“If you are not prepared, you might be surprised you’re sharing a park with millions of noisy guests, but I tell people to embrace it,” said Yankoski. “They won’t be here long, and this might be something you never see again. It might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Find the magic in it.”
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