According to NPR, a cicada brood is set to hatch this spring on the East Coast after living underground for 17 years. The brood, known as the "Magicicada Brood II," will almost literally fill the sky for several weeks as they eat, mate, and lay their eggs before dying.
The cicada is a species of insect that lives most of its life underground, going through several life stages before emerging as adults to quickly mate and lay eggs before they expire. This particular strain of cicada stays underground for an astounding 17 years before finally hatching.
The NPR story mentions that the aftermath of the enormous cicada mating brood will result in a huge number of carcasses that East Coast residents will have to clean up. To put it into perspective, according to NPR, it can, "feel like raking leaves in the fall." That's certainly not a pretty image. Luckily, cicadas aren't known for causing major environmental damage like swarms of locusts do, although in great numbers they have the capacity to damage young trees.
Cicada experts note that the insects should begin emerging once soil temperatures eight inches below the surface reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers still aren't sure why the insects spend so long underground however. Scientists at Brazil's University of Campinas theorize that the 17 year long cycle helps them to avoid parasites, while others believe it helps them to confuse and thus avoid potential predators.
No matter what the cause is though, a new breeding cycle for Magicada Brood II will begin very soon. If you're afraid of bugs, it might be best to keep an eye on the news for when these little insects begin to take flight.
On the other hand, if you're looking to get a little more involved in this "once-in-a-generation" event, Radiolab is teaching people how to build your own DIY cicada predictor from about $80 in parts. Head on over to their website for more detailed instructions.
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