Rare cicada event occurs this spring
Each year, the sound of cicadas can be heard into the mid to later summer months. This upcoming spring though, an even larger unearthing of cicadas looks to make an appearance filling the trees with these harmless insects.
There are two typical categories of cicadas in terms of when they unearth. This year, Mid-Missouri will see both of these brood types. A periodical brood of cicadas look to unearth this spring around late April into May. These cicadas dig their way out of the soil once every thirteen years and includes four separate species. The annual brood will still make an appearance, but this will occur into July and August during a different timespan.
A rare event with another periodical brood of cicadas dubbed brood 13 looks to unearth during the same time span. This brood sees daylight once every 17 years. A mix of both broods can be seen in Central Southeastern portions of Illinois.
These cicadas will not stick around too long, as they will die between 4-6 weeks after shedding their skin and mating.
Tamra Reall who is a field specialist in horticulture for the MU expansion in Jackson county wants people to know that cicadas do not pose a risk for the environment or your animals. Reall details that the treatment of cicadas with pesticides will only do harm to the well-being of our ecosystem, and have minimal affects on the cicadas you will see. Reall explains the cicadas won't be hear long so it is important to enjoy the spectacle rather than trying to fight it.
