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THE CICADAS ARE COMING
Date: 28 May 2004
From: "Carol Banhart" {carol@njconservation.org}
THE STATE WE'RE IN
By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
May 26, 2004 - Volume XXXIV, No. 21
You may not have heard, but our state is now at the crossroads of an
invasion. It's both a phenomenon and a fear-inspiring natural feat.
It's the invasion of 17-year cicadas, also known as "Brood X." The
harmless bugs do not sting or bite - they emerge to mate, lay eggs,
and die. The frenzied mating spree will last through June, leaving
behind crunchy shells and a bit of history as well.
It sounds like the plot of a science fiction movie:
Billions of bugs grow relentlessly for years underground. Children
play: families picnic: all the while oblivious to the festering horde
beneath their feet. Then, suddenly, they all burst forth at once,
covering trees, houses, cars - anything that stands in the way of
their massive invasion.
Actually this is just one of nature's weirdest mysteries - the
emergence of one of largest of the 17-year cicada broods - and it's
happening across much of the East Coast and Midwest right now,
including this State We're In!
Cicadas are flying insects about the size of a shrimp. They are well
known for their size, vast numbers and the shrill chorus males cicadas
use to impress the ladies. They live most of their lives underground
as cicada nymphs. But once every 13 or 17 years, depending on the
brood, they emerge for about one month to transform into adults,
reproduce and die.
While the insects may send some New Jerseyans running for cover or
car washes, I urge you to enjoy this amazing natural spectacle while
it lasts. It is only a matter of weeks. Once the cicadas mate, the
females seek out immature trees in which to cut open branches and lay
their eggs. Soon after, the adults die, having fulfilled their earthly
duties. After a few weeks, the hatchlings burrow deep back into the
earth.
New Jersey is one of only 15 states to host the cicadas this spring,
and it's the only state in the greater New York metropolitan area
where the bugs can be found. Would this fact alone want to make people
flock to the Garden State to see the beastly bugs? Perhaps not, but
consider this: in their 17-year lifespan, the cicadas are among the
oldest living insects.
As far as we know, safety in sheer numbers is the survival strategy
of the cicada. Many fall victim to natural and man-made elements, but
by emerging in droves, the creatures' survival is assured. Other
species higher in the food chain may also depend on the cicada banquet
for their own existence. Birds, snakes and mammals gorge on the
abundant insects, then lay back, loosen their belts and say "I can't
believe I ate that much!"
This year provides scientists with an opportunity to study these
amazing creatures. Perhaps through monitoring their life cycles and
population shifts, changes in the environment may be found as well. Is
it possible that these 1 1/2 -inch long insects could teach us more
about ourselves? Wouldn't it make sense to make sure their lands are
protected and that they too will have a home to return to in 2021?
In another 17 years, the cicadas will be back, but will their homes
still be here? Will we welcome these time-encapsulated creatures again
and will they have the habitat to continue their existence?
You can learn a LOT more about cicadas at the University of
Michigan's periodic cicada website at:
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/michigan_cicadas/Periodical/In
dex.html
the site even includes sound samples of the various cicada choruses!
If you want to join the cicada fan club, check out Cicada Mania at
http://www.cicadamania.org; you can even buy your own `New Jersey
Brood X' t-shirts and coffee mugs there!
I hope you'll contact me at 1-888-LAND-SAVE or
info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF's website at
http://www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving
New Jersey's precious land and natural resources.
* * *
Carol K. Banhart
Senior Coordinator Development & Outreach
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
170 Longview Road, Far Hills, New Jersey 07931
908-234-1224
Fax: 908-234-1189
email: carol@njconservation.org
Date: 28 May 2004
From: "Carol Banhart" {carol@njconservation.org}
THE STATE WE'RE IN
By Michele S. Byers, Executive Director
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
May 26, 2004 - Volume XXXIV, No. 21
You may not have heard, but our state is now at the crossroads of an
invasion. It's both a phenomenon and a fear-inspiring natural feat.
It's the invasion of 17-year cicadas, also known as "Brood X." The
harmless bugs do not sting or bite - they emerge to mate, lay eggs,
and die. The frenzied mating spree will last through June, leaving
behind crunchy shells and a bit of history as well.
It sounds like the plot of a science fiction movie:
Billions of bugs grow relentlessly for years underground. Children
play: families picnic: all the while oblivious to the festering horde
beneath their feet. Then, suddenly, they all burst forth at once,
covering trees, houses, cars - anything that stands in the way of
their massive invasion.
Actually this is just one of nature's weirdest mysteries - the
emergence of one of largest of the 17-year cicada broods - and it's
happening across much of the East Coast and Midwest right now,
including this State We're In!
Cicadas are flying insects about the size of a shrimp. They are well
known for their size, vast numbers and the shrill chorus males cicadas
use to impress the ladies. They live most of their lives underground
as cicada nymphs. But once every 13 or 17 years, depending on the
brood, they emerge for about one month to transform into adults,
reproduce and die.
While the insects may send some New Jerseyans running for cover or
car washes, I urge you to enjoy this amazing natural spectacle while
it lasts. It is only a matter of weeks. Once the cicadas mate, the
females seek out immature trees in which to cut open branches and lay
their eggs. Soon after, the adults die, having fulfilled their earthly
duties. After a few weeks, the hatchlings burrow deep back into the
earth.
New Jersey is one of only 15 states to host the cicadas this spring,
and it's the only state in the greater New York metropolitan area
where the bugs can be found. Would this fact alone want to make people
flock to the Garden State to see the beastly bugs? Perhaps not, but
consider this: in their 17-year lifespan, the cicadas are among the
oldest living insects.
As far as we know, safety in sheer numbers is the survival strategy
of the cicada. Many fall victim to natural and man-made elements, but
by emerging in droves, the creatures' survival is assured. Other
species higher in the food chain may also depend on the cicada banquet
for their own existence. Birds, snakes and mammals gorge on the
abundant insects, then lay back, loosen their belts and say "I can't
believe I ate that much!"
This year provides scientists with an opportunity to study these
amazing creatures. Perhaps through monitoring their life cycles and
population shifts, changes in the environment may be found as well. Is
it possible that these 1 1/2 -inch long insects could teach us more
about ourselves? Wouldn't it make sense to make sure their lands are
protected and that they too will have a home to return to in 2021?
In another 17 years, the cicadas will be back, but will their homes
still be here? Will we welcome these time-encapsulated creatures again
and will they have the habitat to continue their existence?
You can learn a LOT more about cicadas at the University of
Michigan's periodic cicada website at:
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/michigan_cicadas/Periodical/In
dex.html
the site even includes sound samples of the various cicada choruses!
If you want to join the cicada fan club, check out Cicada Mania at
http://www.cicadamania.org; you can even buy your own `New Jersey
Brood X' t-shirts and coffee mugs there!
I hope you'll contact me at 1-888-LAND-SAVE or
info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF's website at
http://www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving
New Jersey's precious land and natural resources.
* * *
Carol K. Banhart
Senior Coordinator Development & Outreach
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
170 Longview Road, Far Hills, New Jersey 07931
908-234-1224
Fax: 908-234-1189
email: carol@njconservation.org