UMWELT
US wappnet sich vor massiver Invasion von Zikaden
April 29, 2021 -
Billionen Zikaden sind kurz vor ihrem Auftauchen nach 17 Jahren im Boden in großen Teilen der östlichen Vereinigten Staaten. Mit ihren lauten Rufen nach Weibchen sind sie unüberhörbar in Dörfern und Städten.
Also known as the “great eastern brood”, they were last seen in 2004 and will emerge across 15 states in the U.S., from Georgia in the south to New York in the north.
This year's group, known as Brood X, is the largest and most broadly distributed of all 15 broods of periodical cicadas in the U.S.
There are 15 different periodical broods of cicadas and two appear to have become extinct. As opposed to annual broods, which emerge every year from July to September, periodical broods stay underground for either 13 or 17 years, depending on the brood.
Cicadas do not bite but emit sounds between 80 and 100 decibels, the equivalent to a low flying airplane or a lawn mower.
Scientists believe that huge and synchronised arrival provides protection against predators.
- Cicadas: What is Brood X and when will it emerge? (Science Focus)
- What You Need to Know about Brood X Cicadas in 2021 (Nature Conservancy)
- ‘A remarkable phenomenon’: billions of cicadas set to emerge across eastern US (The Guardian)
- Billions of Brood X cicadas will hit the US soon (the Hill)
- 'Big brood' of cicadas set to emerge from soil for first time since 2004(AccuWeather)