Swarms of cicadas emerging in Midwest

updated 8:52 a.m. ET May 21, 2007

CHICAGO - Coming soon: Brood XIII. It sounds like a bad horror movie. But it’s actually the name of the billions of cicadas expected to emerge this month in parts of the Midwest after spending 17 years underground.

The red-eyed, shrimp-sized, flying insects don’t bite or sting. But they are known for mating calls that produce a din that can overpower ringing telephones, lawn mowers and power tools.

Brood XIII is expected across northern Illinois, and in parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. Cicadas live only about 30 days as adults, and their main goal is mating.

They don’t harm humans, although they are clumsy and might fly into people. Birds, squirrels and pets, especially dogs, love to eat them, and they are high in protein.

“They’re going to have quite a meal. It’s going to be like Thanksgiving for them,” said Tom Tiddens, supervisor for plant health care at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

They are periodical cicadas, which are only found in the eastern half of North America. The annual, or dog-day cicadas, that appear every summer are common around the world.

The last massive emergence of periodical cicadas was in 2004, when Brood X emerged after 17 years underground in parts of 15 Eastern states. Some broods emerge after 13 years.

Weird Science Why do coins smell? The 10 oddest science stories of 2006.

As nymphs burrowing underground, cicadas suck sap from tree roots. Almost all members of a group, or brood, burst from the ground within a couple days of each other.

They quickly climb the nearest vertical surface to molt and unroll their wings. In some heavily wooded areas, as many as 1.5 million cicadas per acre will crowd onto trees, expert say.

“It’s one of the greatest insect emergences on Earth,” said Daniel Summers, an entomologist at The Field Museum.

A single male’s shrill courtship call can reach 90 decibels, equivalent to a kitchen blender. That could sour plans for outdoor events over the next few weeks.

Ravinia Festival, a 103-year-old music festival held north of Chicago, revised its schedule to avoid classical musicians having to compete with the insects, said festival president and CEO Welz Kauffman.

June will see more pop bands outdoors, a few concerts moved indoors and a visit from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “With 350 voices on stage, they can hold their own against the bugs,” Kauffman said.

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, spokeswoman Gloria Ciaccio joked that her advice for brides holding outdoor weddings there will be to put the tent flaps down and turn the music up.

MORE FROM SCIENCE

Science Section Front

Ancient Pompeii site faces modern threats Panel finds misconduct by fusion scientist U.S. soldier remains from 1846 found in Mexico Baby red panda adopted by house cat dies Seven superpowers destined for the masses Cosmic Log: Tomorrow's Dark Knights Singing for sex: Even toadfish do it Bigger is better, until you go extinct Lightning remains a striking mystery Test your science and space smarts Science Section Front   Add Science headlines to your news reader: