Billions of cicadas are expected to emerge underground in the northeastern part of the United States. The 17-year-life cycle of these critters started underground in 1999 and will conclude in May as they make a grand appearance.
Brood V cicadas or periodical cicadas are less than 2 inches in length. They have dark bodies and blood-red eyes. The periodical cicadas are also called the "17-year locusts" because of their life cycle.
Periodical cicadas spend 13 to 17 years underground and only emerge when the soil underneath reaches 17.7 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit).
Adult cicadas normally live about four to six weeks following their escape from underground. The goal is to find a mate and lay their eggs before they die.
While these critters are not capable of stinging or biting, they emerge in massive groups and they make loud droning sounds. The male cicadas can be blamed for the noise, which they use to attract female cicadas for mating.
For as long as adult cicadas are present, nearby residents can hear the "cicada songs" early in the day or in the late evening.
The melodic buzzing is nearly frightening as the males cry out to find mates before the end of their 17-year life cycle.
Adult cicadas lay on vegetation and trees. An adult female cicada cuts into small twigs where she lays about 28 eggs on each branch. One female cicada can lay up to 400 eggs in about 50 sites. These eggs will then hatch in about six to 10 weeks.
The newborn cicadas or nymphs then fall from the trees and make their way underground. The process starts again - they will spend the next 17 years underground and feed on fluids from small roots. These new batch of cicadas are expected to emerge in 2033.
While they do not feed on plants, the slits female cicadas make for eggs can cause damage to vegetation and trees. Experts advise homeowners to delay pruning trees prior to the expected cicada emergence. This is especially beneficial to areas that are often heavily infested.
The May 2016 cicada emergence is expected in parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Long Island.
Photo: Eli Duke | Flickr
