Got Nature? Blog

WRTV, Indianapolis News and Headlines: WEST LAFAYETTE — Elizabeth Long loves bugs.

And she wants you to know that this summer is going to be huge for bug lovers, thanks to the emergence of two special broods of cicadas, which hasn’t happened in more than two centuries.

“That’s really, really exciting for these periodical cicadas, these two broods that are going to be emerging this year,” said Long, a Purdue University assistant professor of entomology.

“The big deal is the fact that they will be emerging in synchrony for the first time (since 1803). It’s a really long time.”

Long has a doctorate from the University of Missouri in plant, insect and microbial sciences and specializes in managing pests and beneficial bugs on farms and orchards.

And just how much does Long love bugs?

Well, she described the big green-and-black cicadas we see every summer in Central Indiana as “cute.”

“They’re green, they have a white belly,” she said. “I think they’re very cute. They’re very clumsy, you know.”

Long said these two broods of cicadas will be emerging in southern and northern parts of Indiana for about a month starting in May, then they’re gone.

WRTV asked Long about this summer’s ridiculously rare emergence of the 17-year Brood XIII (or Brood 13) and the 13-year Brood XIX (Brood 19) cicadas.

Question: What’s so special about the cicadas we are going to see this summer?
Long: We don’t have many insects that stay underground as immatures for this long, you know. It’s I think pretty amazing. So that’s really, really exciting for these periodical cicadas, these two broods that are going to be emerging this year. The big deal is the fact that they will be emerging in synchrony for the first time (since 1803). It’s a really long time.

The main difference between the two broods is the time that they spend (before) they emerge. So one is a 13-year brood and, it’s a little confusing because… the two broods that are going to emerge are Brood 19 (Brood XIX) and Brood 13 (Brood XIII).

Brood 19, which is just the number assigned to this group that emerges, those are 13 year cicadas… Then Brood 13, which is a little bit confusing… they emerge every 17 years.

So you can see that 13-17 overlap. That’s how we’re in that coincidence with the synchrony based on the math of them emerging both at the same time this year.

It so weird that 19 is 13 (years) and 13 is (17 years). I had to read up on it to get it straight.

WRTV: No wonder you guys have to get advanced degrees to understand bugs.
Long: Everyone thinks they’re simple… I’m like, these insects, they keep it challenging.

To see the full article, please visit WRTV Indianapolis News and Headlines.

Resources:
Periodical Cicadas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology
Billions of Cicadas Are Coming This Spring; What Does That Mean for Wildlife?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
17 Ways to Make the Most of the 17-year Cicada Emergence, Purdue College of Agriculture
Ask an Expert: Cicada Emergence Video, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension-FNR
Periodical Cicada in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Cicada Killers, The Education Store
Purdue Cicada Tracker, Purdue Extension-Master Gardener Program
Cicada, Youth and Entomology, Purdue Extension
Indiana Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Vic Ryckaert, Digital Reporter
WRTV Indianapolis

Elizabeth Y. Long, Assistant Professor
Purdue University Department of Entomology