Cicadas: The Delightful Weirdos You Should Learn to Love

Brood IX Takes Flight After 17 Years

As Brood IX (the Great Eastern Brood) of periodical cicadas takes flight for the first time in 17 years, it's time to get acquainted with these intriguing creatures. Cicadas belong to the superfamily Cicadoidea, encompassing over 3000 species worldwide. These insects exhibit remarkable diversity in size, shape, and sound production, making them an endlessly fascinating subject of study.

Categorizing Cicadas: A Vast Array of Species

Cicadas are broadly divided into four families: Cicadidae, Tettigarctidae, Tibicenidae, and Tettiginiidae. Each family encompasses a diverse range of species, exhibiting unique characteristics and distributions. Cicadidae is the largest family, housing the majority of the world's cicada species. These insects are typically large, with clear wings and prominent eyes. Tettigarctidae comprises smaller cicadas with opaque wings and reduced eyes, often associated with forests and woodlands. Tibicenidae cicadas are known for their distinctive wedge-shaped heads and powerful sound production. Finally, Tettiginiidae includes the smallest and most cryptic cicadas, characterized by their long, narrow wings and inconspicuous appearance.

Cicadas are found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and even urban environments. They are most abundant in tropical and subtropical regions but can also be found in temperate climates. These insects play important ecological roles, serving as a food source for birds, reptiles, and other animals. Notably, cicadas are known for their remarkable life cycles, with some species spending years underground as nymphs before emerging as adults.

Brood IX is a particularly well-known group of periodical cicadas. These insects emerge in massive numbers every 17 years, synchronizing their life cycles to overwhelm predators and ensure the survival of their species. The adults live for only a few weeks, spending most of their time mating and laying eggs. After the eggs hatch, the nymphs drop to the ground and burrow underground, where they will remain for the next 17 years, until it is their time to emerge.

Cicadas are often misunderstood and feared, but they are truly remarkable creatures. Their unique life cycles, diverse species, and fascinating behavior make them an important part of the natural world. As Brood IX takes flight, take some time to observe these delightful weirdos and appreciate their impact on the ecosystem.