Illinois is gearing up for something pretty unusual in the spring and summer of 2024 – a massive showing from Brood XIX cicadas. This event, happening for the first time in 200plus years, will see an unbelievable number of these large eyed insects coming out to play. They’ll be causing quite a stir around the state. Not everybody might like the idea of being surrounded by cicadas. However, learning about this phenomenon and getting ready for it can actually help folks to enjoy this impressive display by Mother Nature.
Cicadas, The Creatures Beneath Our Feet
Hidden away for 17 years, Brood XIX’s youngsters have been quietly living below ground, munching on plant roots without making much noise. Their rise during late spring and early summer is a big deal it’s their time to find partners, lay eggs and make their presence known with their signature tunes for roughly four to six weeks.
Allen Lawrance from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago stated that we can’t stop the cicadas from coming. They show up for a short time and this is something we can’t change, but it’s important because it affects all living things around us.
The Cicada Role in the Ecosystem
The appearance of cicadas isn’t just an interesting event. It’s critical for the environment. Cicadas are an essential food item for various animals like birds, bugs, and mammals. Their burrowing helps put air into the soil and when they pass away, their bodies decompose and gives nutrition back to the earth.
The Environmental Protection Agency has pointed out how vital cicadas are, especially as food when there’s a drought. They’re crucial for helping other creatures get through tough times.
Mitigating Cicada Impact
We can’t really avoid cicadas when they come out of the ground.
Experts have a trick that might cut down the number of cicadas in certain places. By covering the bottom of your trees and shrubbery with aluminium foil or special tape, you can stop cicadas from crawling up to eat or lay their eggs. This method isn’t perfect, but it could give you a break from the swarms that are expected.
Living Peacefully with Cicadas
Since cicadas aren’t harmful to people or buildings, professionals say we should just leave them alone. Frank Meek, who works for Orkin, notes that even though cicadas don’t fly well and might end up inside by accident, they won’t take over your home. Since they play an important part in nature’s food webs and don’t live long once they emerge, using bug spray on them doesn’t make much sense and usually doesn’t work.
Nature’s Orchestra
Brod XIX is coming to Chicago, and it’s expected to be really noisy says Lawrance the sound of so many Cicadas, with their mix of mating calls and chats, are about to fill the area with a nonstop buzz. This wild concert gives folks a chance to really take in and enjoy nature’s soundtrack at its liveliest.
The Cycle Keeps Going
Once cicadas wrap up their business above ground, the process goes on as newborn bugs dig down deep, not coming back up for another 17 years. There in sync lives remain one of the cool puzzles that captivate both scientists and outdoor lovers.
Time to Admire
With the 2024 cicada arrival almost here, Illinois locals should get ready to watch this happening with eyes wide open and full of wonder. The City of Lake Forest suggests skipping the bug spray and says we should just savor this natural show for what it is an infrequent peek at how complex our world’s environment is.
Wrapping Up, A Mind-Blowing Experience
Illinois is about to see a huge number of cicadas burst onto the scene. This isn’t just a cool thing to watch. it shows us how all the parts of nature fit together. With billions of these bugs getting ready to show themselves, we’ve got an opportunity to think about how amazing and tough nature is. If we approach this with interest and care, we’ll get to witness one of the planet’s most incredible rhythms, feeling in tune with the natural world’s orchestra.
+ There are no comments
Add yours