Future of us
The Return of Cicadas
By- Riya Patel
What are Cicadas?
Cicadas, also scientifically known as Cicadoidea, are insects that emerge from the ground every 13 or 17 years depending on where you live. These insects are indeed harmless, but extremely loud; probably the loudest insect you’ll hear. Cicadas are beginning to emerge again in the eastern part of America. There's over 3,000 species of cicadas which fall into two groups: annual cicadas and periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas are seen every year ,versus the periodical cicadas, which usually live underground and only emerge every decade or two. Periodical cicadas only occur in the Eastern United States and this year they will emerge from the ground in 15 states, from May to June.
Are Cicadas harmful?
Cicadas aren't like your typical insects, which usually bite or sting. They are not harmful to humans, but they are extreamly noisy so they may be distracting. Even though they aren't harmful to us humans, they can be to most animals. When eaten and digested, they can potentially result in stomach issues in dogs and cats because their exoskeleton may be difficult to digest. In extreme cases, they can suffer life-threatening consequences after. Some pets may end up getting sick or even choking. Even though these noisy critters aren't harmful, they’re everywhere. In the past, people have gotten a big vacuum to gather them.
What do Cicadas do?
Cicadas are really beneficial to the environment. They prune grown trees, oxygenize the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as a major source of nitrogen for growing trees. They also become really good fertilizer for the roots of the trees after they die. After emerging from the ground, they mate, lay their eggs and then die within four to six weeks. The Brood X cicadas came out in the spring of 2021 after being underground for 17 years. They only affected 15 states: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The next time we'll see the Brood X group is in 2038.