Brood X, the Great Eastern Brood of cicadas, has made the summer of 2021 a very loud and interesting season in Indiana. Dogs and birds alike have loved these natural protein snacks, but there is more to these weird insects than meets the eye (or ear).
According to National Geographic Kids, there are over 3,000 species of cicadas (Shaw, 2021). These 3,000 species are divided into 2 distinct groupings: annual and perennial. Only 7 species of cicadas fall into the perennial category, meaning they emerge en masse like Brood X (Shaw, 2021).
The perennial group of cicadas take a big, long nap of 13 to 17 years. So technically, the cicadas that you have observed this summer are considered teenagers by human years, and probably older than some of those reading this blog. These insects are harmless (other than the overwhelming sound) and do not bite. Cicadas can be somewhat intimidating however when you have hundreds swarming at your head, which people may find happening when they mow their lawn. Cicadas are naturally attracted to loud noises--like their clicking sounds and loud lawnmowers.
To find more interesting facts about these noisy insects, try out our wonderful eLibrary resource Hoopla. There are several titles available instantly, that are all about cicadas! Including the ones pictured in this blog posting.
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Resources
Shaw, Allyson. "Cicada". National Geographic Kids, 2021, https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/cicada.