An expert has warned people that this year’s “mass emergence” of cicadas could be noisy, but shared an unexpected silver lining.
Professor Hannah Burrack explained why some areas will experience the greatest seasonal exposure in history.
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Burrack, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, indicated that people’s gardens and nature would really benefit from this huge arrival.
The expert explained that periodical cicadas were the type of insect that appeared en masse every summer.
These insects live underground for 13 or 17 years and emerge at the same time when they are ready to mate.
Burrack explained that these insects are located exclusively east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States.
This means people in parts of the South, Midwest and East Coast will be affected by the largest population ever assumed.
Burrack explained that this year’s phenomenon occurred because a group of 13-year-olds, which scientists call litters, and a group of 17-year-olds were expected to emerge at the same time.
The professor exclusively explained to The US Sun how this major event could have one major downside but make a huge positive difference to people’s landscapes.
“It will be noisy and there will be a lot of cicadas for three to six weeks, but then it will all be over,” she said.
“The flip side of this is that you’ll have a lot of dead cicadas afterward, which might not sound very good, but we think they’re a really useful fertilizer for your gardens and plants.”
Burrack explained how research supported this idea.
“There has been some really interesting science looking at the microbial community in soil and how that changes after the periodic emergence of a cicada,” said the expert.
“That they can essentially provide these enormous nutrients to all plants and the environment.”
Professor Burrack also shared an academic theory behind this insect.
“There is some science and some theories suggesting that this could also be an evolutionary adaptation,” said the professor.
It will be noisy and there will be lots of cicadas for 3 to 6 weeks, but then it will all be over.”
Hannah Burrack
“That they are essentially fertilizing the trees where their descendants will live for the next 13 or 17 years.”
Cicadas will begin to emerge in separate areas at different times as these insects begin to emerge when the ground temperature reaches 64 degrees.
Not all areas east of the Rockies are prepared to experience such a large influx of these creatures.
The professor shared why urban areas could be spared such a large influx of these insects.
“They need trees or shrubs to be buried throughout their life cycle to survive and emerge as adults,” she said.
“For the most part, we won’t have large populations in cities unless we have legacy parks that have been established for periods of time in those urban areas,” she added.
This means that areas with more vegetation could experience the natural benefits of this seasonal phenomenon.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
