Insider Blog: Weather impacts on cicada broods

With more summer-like conditions settling in across Mid-MO another big sign of the warmer season is starting to emerge from the ground. Two cicada broods are waking up as deep soil temperatures have warmed above the 64-degree mark. But with spring storms still in the forecast the environment might not be on the bug's side.

Cicadas thrive in moist, warm summer air that typically arrives in Missouri by early May. But this transitory time between seasons can pose risks for early risers that have to deal with lingering spring storms. While rain isn't deadly to cicadas it does impede their ability to fly and can knock them off trees as they're molting exposing them to predators on the ground.

The active springtime also usually means more weather systems are tracking across the country in general. Like us, cicadas don't like change and they can be especially susceptible to atmospheric changes from fronts and pressure systems. When cicadas are still in their holes underground waiting to emerge this small pocket holds a bubble of air. If a strong cold front or storm system tracks through, these are known to cause relatively quick pressure changes. Much like how your ears pop from pressure changes, this transition in atmospheric pressure can pop the cicada's bubble and stop its life cycle before it's out of the ground.

Pressure won't be able to fully stop the coinciding broods this year. With less active weather in the summer and long stretches of heat, cicadas are known to thrive in our region. While cicadas aren't dangerous to humans they can threaten your plants so be sure to cover sensitive plants.