What People Think
Most people say Cicadas will come back to Chicago this year. Cicadas have two wings they are very small bugs. There are over two thousand Cicadas around the world, Cicadas have large, wings that they use for flying. Male Cicadas make loud buzzing noises to attract female Cicadas. Furthermore, these insects like the summertime more than anything because that is when they emerge.
Explaining Cicadas Life
Cicadas are very harmless to humans and plants because they don’t bite or sting. They have a life cycle that can range from two to seventeen years. This year these insects will once again emerge in Chicago.
Through out Cicada’s life time they spend most of it underground. They start their life as a egg; females can lay up to 200 to 400 eggs in tiny holes they made somewhere. The insect can protect them-self from predators by camouflaging themselves in the trees and flying from hungry birds and much more.
There are two types of them, annual and periodical. Some people might think these bugs can hurt things but really they don’t do any damage. Every Cicada in the whole world have large bulging eyes.
What They Look Like/What They Do
Annual Cicadas have black or green eyes but periodical typically have light red but in rare cases they can also have white, blue, yellow, or even multicolored eyes. In a couple of months there will be so many of them all over Chicago. In fact, some say millions some say even billions this spring, which will be first time since 1803.
One group emerges from the underground every 13 years, but on the other hand the other ones emerges every 17 years. The emerges will start to happen when the ground finally starts to warm up. Experts say that over a trillion of these pesky bugs will start to emerge nationwide.
Most people will see them all around Chicago but they mostly they are going to be around a lot of older, stronger standings of trees. If you are planning to fruits, plants, or anything of that nature in Chicago this year then you should most definitely cover them with netting once these bugs emerge. Once Cicadas die off and begin rotting, they will provide nutrients to trees and plants.
By Yakira Govan
sources:
CBS Chicago – Massive emergence of cicadas to descend on Illinois and Indiana this spring by Todd Feurer
Live Science – Cicadas: Facts about the loud, seasonal insects by Mindy Weisberger
Top and featured image Courtesy of Pontla’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset image Courtesy of Nga Manu Images NZ’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
