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No, it is not a horror movie. This phenomenon is common, though uncommon, in cicadas – thumb-sized insects with terrifyingly large eyes and thin wings.
Its annoying performance is as impressive as it is rare. Every 17 years, these “periodic” cicadas surface to mate, lay eggs, and eventually die.
“It was like science fiction,” said Melanie Asher, who lives in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. The woman remembers well the influx of cicadas in this area in 1987 when she was a child.
“The floor was covered in deadly cicadas,” he said.
“I am not afraid of insects, [bet] it was horrible, like it was from another world, “he added.
This year, cicadas are forecast to appear in May over a wide area from Washington in the east to Chicago in the Midwest to Georgia in the south, perhaps a couple of weeks earlier in some regions.
Melody Merin, 46, based in Washington, also remembers the last invasion of these winged insects in 2004.
“They flew almost everywhere,” said Merin, who works in communications.
According to her, cicadas were difficult to avoid. While driving, “they crashed into the windshield. You can’t drive with useful windows, “Merin said.
What else should people expect as they approach their multi-week scar stay? These large insects infiltrate the hair, as the locals recall. There is also a crunch when passing through the power of the dead cicadas.
Finally, as Peter Peart recalls, the deafening noise.
“It’s a cacophony,” said a 66-year-old retiree living in Haiti, Washington, DC, where he experienced the 1987 and 2004 cicada outbreaks.
„[Svirpimas] he is famous and ruthless. It’s uninterrupted, “added the man.
However, according to him, this is not the end of the world.
“He’s getting used to it,” he said. “It’s background noise.”
Perth admits that he is interested in this “impressive” phenomenon and hopes to see the facial expressions of people who have not yet seen the invasion of the cicadas.
“I’m looking forward to that,” he said. “I look forward to people’s reactions.”
Amazing predators
“It’s truly unique,” said John Cooley, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut in Hartford.
Cicadas, which cause no real damage other than damage to human nerves and eardrums, “just have a 17-year life cycle.”
According to him, this long and largely invisible life cycle is based on a strict schedule.
“When the temperature of the ground reaches a certain level, 17 degrees Celsius, the temperature one night, which can be humid but not too rainy, the nymphs of the cicadas jump to the surface and burst into adult cicadas,” explained the expert.
Then they will spend about a week between the plants doing nothing and then, according to Cooley, the “adult activities” will begin.
In other words, a huge cicada fighter will start to encompass the entire region.
According to J. Cooley, the sole purpose of this phenomenon is to extend kinship.
“The sound we hear is masculine, only men sway to get a feminine response,” he explained.
“When the male and female meet, they mate, the female lays the eggs and they both die,” Cooley said shortly afterward.
Eggs laid on tree trunks or tree branches hatch after 6-8 weeks. The ant-like larvae fall to the ground, burrow deep, and spend 17 years feeding on the sap from tree roots until a single cycle begins.
According to Cooley, the general prediction is that “billions or even billions” of cicadas will survive this spring.
Cicadas can overwhelm predators by exuding en masse at the same time and appearing very rarely.
This strategy is effective. Even if squirrels, birds, raccoons, and dogs enjoy these crunchy insects for days, an indescribable number of cicadas still survive.
Meanwhile, the residents of the American capital are trying to philosophically appreciate the fact that the invasion of these insects coincides with the return of the beautiful spring air. This year, this is especially expected, as residents have had to spend almost a year primarily at home, subject to the limitations of the pandemic.
Going for a walk or picnic in the park may no longer be so appealing when swarms of insects roam.
“It’s cruel,” said Melody Merin laughing.
“Someone seems to have a very unusual sense of humor,” he added.
