1 day Ago By Maya Collins
As the temperatures gradually warm up this spring, southwest Ohio is gearing up for an event 17 years in the making. As the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reported, the state is on the cusp of a significant periodical cicada emergence, specifically Brood XIV. These insects, which have spent nearly two decades living underground, are preparing to make their grand - if noisy - entrance above the soil.
Apart from annual cicadas, the eastern United States is the exclusive home to these periodical wonders, which live most of their lives as nymphs beneath the Earth’s surface. Different cohorts, known as broods and tracked using Roman numerals, emerge en masse every 13 or 17 years. In a statement obtained by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Tom Macy, forest health program manager, highlighted this as a unique educational opportunity.
"We encourage everyone to take this unique opportunity to appreciate and learn more about these fascinating native forest insects and their value in naturally functioning ecosystems," he said.Residents across more than a dozen Ohio counties, including Hamilton, Clermont, and Brown, will experience Brood XIV's appearance in the spring. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, places like Greene and Champaign counties can also expect to witness this phenomenon.
The emergence is predicted for the second half of May when soil temperatures hit the sweet spot of 64 degrees. Then, the cicadas will stick around for three to four weeks, devoting their short-lived adult phase to reproduction.Cicadas may be off-putting to some with their loud mating calls; however, they pose no threat to humans or pets.
They serve as a nutritious food source for many animals, including birds and mammals. While female cicadas lay eggs in tree branches, causing some leaf death—a phenomenon known as "flagging—established trees generally shrug off the temporary affliction.For those interested in contributing to the scientific understanding of this rare event, the Cicada Safari app provides a platform for citizen scientists to report their sightings.
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