Cicada expert Gene Kritsky delves into the fascinating world of cicadas, discussing their yearly vs. periodical cycles, survival tactics underground, mating rituals, and the loudness of their songs. Learn about their timekeeping abilities, evolution, and how to engage with them through photography. Get ready for the upcoming cicada emergence this spring in 18 states!
Periodical cicadas emerge after heavy rains at 64 degrees F, showcasing evolutionary strategies like predator satiation.
Citizen science plays a crucial role in tracking cicadas, with the Cicada Safari app enabling public participation in monitoring populations.
Deep dives
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Insights into Cicadaology
Dr. Gene Kritsky, a cicada expert, shared insights on periodical cicadas, noting their emergence after heavy rains at 64 degrees Fahrenheit. He described the distinct features of periodical cicadas compared to annual cicadas, emphasizing their evolutionary strategies like predator satiation. Dr. Kritsky detailed the life cycle of cicadas, explaining their emergence, mating rituals, and the mating calls made by males.
Climate Change Impact and Monitoring Cicadas
Dr. Kritsky discussed the impact of climate change on cicadas, noting the warming trend affecting their emergence patterns. He highlighted the role of citizen science in tracking cicada populations, introducing the Cicada Safari app for public participation in identifying and monitoring cicadas. The app allows users to report cicada sightings, aiding researchers in studying and preserving cicada populations.
They are numerous. They are patient. They are COMING for the United States in droves this spring: They are cicadas. *The* Cicada guy Dr. Gene Kritsky joins to chat all about the annual cicadas you may see every summer vs. the periodical ones that cycle through the states in broods of giant numbers. Learn how they survive underground for decades, what they are doing down there, all about their lifecycle, why some cozy up underground for 17 years while others get moving 4 years quicker, plus get inspired to take a cicada safari, download Cicada Safari, and appreciate their songs, which can be as loud as an ambulance. By the end, you’ll want to don a bug costume and take a road trip to one of the 18 states expecting a periodical emergence this spring!