Periodical cicada emergence this year

In the late 1800s, the portrayal of insects in art flourished. One specific insect commonly seen in the art of this time were cicadas. Cicada-themed art still thrives today as modern artists incorporate them into poetry, paintings, tattoos and illustrations. Just this February at the Lux Center for the Arts, a dynamic illustration featuring cicada exuviae (shells) was on exhibit in the community room gallery. These true bugs, emerging as adults for only four to six weeks, fascinate spectators with their summer songs and delicate shells.

This spring and summer, from late April to early June, will be a special year for periodical cicadas, with the emergence of Brood XIX and Brood XIII. These broods are on a13-year and 17-year cycle, respectively. The last recorded emergence was in 1998, and the next won’t happen until 2037. All seven periodical cicada species will be seen as adults in the same year, which is a rare occurrence.

These cicadas are identifiable with their bright-red eyes, black bodies, orange-veined wings and gentle nature. Oftentimes, the best way to gauge whether a cicada is periodical or annual is to listen for the sounds they make. Rather than basing their identity purely on appearance, their songs are generally species-specific.

Periodical cicadas are rare because they are organisms that don’t emerge any other time except at a particular location once in a set number of years. When they do emerge, they’re often plentiful. The most common periodical insects are the North America periodical cicadas of the Magicicada genus. They are one of the most studied insects in evolution and ecology due to their predictability in number and emergence.

The first of the two primary hypotheses for why periodical cicadas take so long to come out from underground, is that predators may find it difficult to synchronize their life cycles with an organism that spends a large number of years out of the picture. The second hypothesis is that periodical cicadas intentionally want to avoid hybridizing with other cicadas.

Cicada life cycles come in three stages: egg, nymph and adult. The eggs are laid in tiny holes of tree branches and shrubs. After they hatch from their egg, they are referred to as a nymph, at which point they bury themselves underground. During their stay underground, they suck the liquid out of the tree roots they’ve attached themselves too. When they finally come out, they make their way to a nearby tree or tall surface where they shed their shell. Occasionally, their lungs, appearing as white strands, can be found in the exuvia. This may be something worth collecting, considering their limited edition. Enjoy this special season.

By Shanti Slater