Imagine millions of insects emerging from the ground after spending years underground, ready to mate and create a chorus unlike any other. This isn’t science fiction; it’s cicadas, and for Northeast Ohio residents in 2024, the question on everyone’s mind is: will we be experiencing this buzzing phenomenon?

Cicada 101: Unmasking the Mystery Bug

Cicadas are often mistaken for locusts, but these fascinating insects belong to a different order entirely. They’re closer relatives to leafhoppers, known for their piercing-sucking mouthparts used to feed on plant sap. There are over 3,000 cicada species worldwide, but the ones that capture our attention are the periodical cicadas with their synchronized emergences in massive numbers.

A Life Spent Underground: The Nymph Stage

Cicadas have a unique life cycle unlike most insects. Their journey begins not with an egg but a tiny nymph hatching from an egg laid high in a tree branch. These nymphs then plummet to the ground, burrowing themselves several feet underground. Here, they spend the next 13 or 17 years feeding on tree root sap with their specialized mouthparts. During this extended underground residency, they undergo several molts, growing larger with each shed exoskeleton.

Prime Time: The Adult Emergence

The most captivating part of a cicada’s life is its emergence as an adult. Triggered by factors like soil temperature and moisture, a brood (a group of cicadas with the same life cycle) erupts from the ground in a synchronized fashion. This synchronized emergence is an evolutionary strategy to overwhelm predators, ensuring the survival of some offspring.

These newly emerged adults, often mistaken for aliens with their bulbous eyes and transparent wings, have one goal: to reproduce. Males use their specialized tymbals, vibrating membranes on their abdomens, to produce a loud, pulsating song to attract mates. Females, lacking the ability to sing, are drawn to the males’ calls.

A Short But Loud Life Above Ground

After mating, females lay their eggs in small slits cut into tree branches. These eggs hatch within a few weeks, and the tiny nymphs begin their long journey underground, restarting the entire 13- or 17-year cycle. Adult cicadas only live for a few short weeks, their primary purpose fulfilled. Their empty shells can be seen clinging to trees and other surfaces after they die.

Cicada Types: A Chorus of Diversity

While periodical cicadas with their prime-numbered life cycles steal the show, there are also annual cicadas present in most parts of the world, including Northeast Ohio. These cicadas emerge every year, typically during the hottest months, and have a shorter, 2- to 5-year life cycle.

Here’s a quick comparison of periodical and annual cicadas:

Feature	Periodical Cicadas	Annual Cicadas
Life Cycle	13 or 17 years	2 to 5 years
Emergence Timing	Synchronized every 13 or 17 years	Every year during summer
Numbers	Massive emergences	Smaller populations
Sound	Loud, pulsating songs	Varied songs, some quieter

Cicadas in Northeast Ohio: Will 2024 be a Banner Year?

The good news for Northeast Ohio residents in 2024 is that you likely won’t be experiencing a massive cicada emergence. The last major emergence of periodical cicadas in the region, known as Brood X, occurred in 2021. Periodical cicadas with 17-year life cycles typically emerge in the northern part of their range, including Ohio.

However, there’s always a chance of encountering a few “stragglers” – cicadas that emerge a year or two earlier or later than their brood due to variations in soil temperature or other factors. Additionally, annual cicadas are likely to be present in Northeast Ohio throughout the summer of 2024.

Living Alongside Cicadas: A Harmonious Coexistence

While cicadas may seem like a nuisance with their loud songs and sheer numbers, they’re actually beneficial to the environment. Here’s why:

• Food Source: Cicadas emerging in large numbers provide a temporary feast for birds, reptiles, and other animals.
• Soil Aeration: As nymphs burrow underground, they create tunnels that help aerate the soil and improve drainage.
• Nutrient Cycling: Dead cicadas decompose, returning nutrients to the soil, benefiting plant life.

So You See a Cicada: What to Do?

If you encounter a cicada in Northeast Ohio in 2024, here are some tips for a peaceful coexistence:

• Leave Them Be: Cicadas pose no threat to humans or pets. They don’t bite or sting, and their primary focus is on finding a mate and reproducing.
• Enjoy the Show: Witnessing a cicada emergence, especially of an annual species, can be a fascinating natural phenomenon. Observe them from a distance and appreciate their unique life cycle.
• Protect Your Plants (Optional): While cicadas feed on tree sap, large numbers can potentially stress young trees. If you’re concerned about valuable young trees, you can use lightweight netting to create a temporary barrier during peak emergence times of annual cicadas.
• Let Nature Take Its Course: Cicadas are a natural part of the ecosystem, and their population fluctuations are self-regulating. Resist the urge to use pesticides, which can harm beneficial insects and disrupt the ecological balance.

Cicadas: More Than Just Noise

Cicadas are much more than just loud insects. They play a vital role in the environment and offer a glimpse into the fascinating world of insect life cycles. By understanding their biology and appreciating their ecological contributions, we can learn to coexist with these remarkable creatures.

For more information on cicadas, you can explore these resources:

• Cicada Mania: This website provides in-depth information on cicadas, including their biology, life cycles, and different species https://www.cicadamania.com/.
• Entomological Society of America: This professional organization offers information on various insect groups, including cicadas https://entsoc.org/.
• National Geographic: This website has informative articles and pictures about cicadas https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/periodical-brood-cicadas-emerge.

Hopefully, this information has helped you learn more about cicadas and their role in Northeast Ohio’s ecosystem. So next time you hear a cicada’s song, take a moment to appreciate these fascinating creatures and their unique contribution to the natural world. pestasset.com (440) 363-6593