The World of Cicadas

Cicadas are back! Ever hear a constant loud buzzing noise. If you are in a wooded area around water, expect to see billions this year. 2024 is a special year because 2 types of broods (Brood XIX-The Great Southern brood emerges every 13 year & Brood XIII- The Northern Illinois brood emerges every 17 year) which happens every 221 years (the last one was 1803 and the next one will not happen until 2245). Although they may look vicious with their bright red eyes, cicadas are harmless, non poisonous, and do not bite or sting. So if your pet eats one or two, it will be completely fine. The only thing they might be harmful to is people who are allergic to shellfish and young trees by damaged branches by female cicadas by drilling into the wood with their ovipositor to lay their eggs into which can be fixed my installing fine netting around the tree. They feed on sap from root trees, plant trees, and shrubs while in the ground. They also dig their way out to the surface in the spring around May when the weather is around 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Once they emerge, the males make loud buzzing sounds by flexing their muscles in their tymbal organ to make a click sound. The hotter the day is, the louder they become. They do this to attract females to mate and lay eggs or to make themselves known to predictors like birds, bats, spiders, and wasps. They are beneficial by aerating the soil (meaning they puncture holes to improve water filtration and nutrients into the ground easier) and add nutrients when they decompose.