1 trillion cicadas set to invade Southeast, Midwest

TODAY

5 May 202405:19

Summary

TLDRA massive emergence of cicadas is taking place in the Southeast and Midwest of the United States, with an estimated one trillion insects appearing over the next month. This unusual event is due to two different breeds, one emerging every 13 years and the other every 17 years, coinciding this year for the first time in over two centuries. While the cicadas are causing a stir and their noise can be as loud as a lawnmower or a jet, they are harmless to humans and pets. Experts suggest that using bug spray is ineffective and potentially harmful to other beneficial insects. Instead, homeowners can protect their trees by netting or using a leaf blower to remove the cicadas. Interestingly, cicadas are beneficial to the environment as they aerate the soil and their decomposition provides nutrients.

Takeaways

🎶 The sound of cicadas has disturbed people's sleep due to their emergence in large numbers.
🐛 A trillion cicadas are invading parts of the Southeast and Midwest, attributed to two different breeds emerging simultaneously.
📈 This double emergence is a rare event that hasn't occurred in over 200 years.
🌳 Cicadas are known to cause a stir and are particularly attracted to certain tree sizes for laying their eggs.
🌡️ The noise produced by male cicadas searching for mates can be as loud as a lawn mower or a passing jet.
🚫 The noise level from cicadas can potentially exceed safety levels set by OSHA.
🏠 Homeowners are advised to use netting to protect young trees from cicada damage.
🌲 Cicadas are beneficial to the environment as they aerate the soil and their decomposition provides nutrients.
🎉 Despite being a nuisance, cicadas are harmless to humans and pets.
🔍 If you haven't experienced a cicada invasion yet, netting young trees is a preventative measure.
🌬️ For a quick solution, a leaf blower can be used to remove cicadas from your property.

Q & A

What is the cause of the cicada invasion in the southeast and midwest regions?
-The invasion is due to two different breeds of cicadas, one emerging every 13 years and the other every 17 years, emerging at the same time this year, which is a rare occurrence not seen in over 200 years.
How many cicadas are expected to emerge during this invasion?
-Experts predict more than a trillion cicadas will emerge, which is enough to line end to end and reach the moon and back 33 times.
What is the impact of cicadas on the environment?
-Cicadas are actually beneficial to the environment as they aerate the soil when they emerge and their bodies, when they die off, provide nutrients for the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer.
How can homeowners protect their young trees from cicadas?
-Homeowners can use netting, such as cheesecloth or tobacco cloth, to cover and protect branches from nesting cicadas. They can also use a sheet to cover the trees.
What is the duration of the cicadas' stay above ground?
-The cicadas are expected to be above ground for about four to six weeks during their emergence.
Why are the cicadas so loud?
-The male cicadas are making noise to find a mate, and their collective chorus can be as loud as a lawn mower or a passing jet.
How can the noise from cicadas be potentially harmful?
-The noise level from the cicadas can potentially be harmful as it can exceed levels that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would consider safe in some areas.
What advice is given for dealing with a backyard full of cicadas?
-Experts suggest not using bug spray as it is ineffective and harmful to other insects. Instead, netting is recommended to protect trees, and a leaf blower can be used for a quick cleanup.
How often do the two breeds of cicadas mentioned in the script emerge?
-One breed of cicada emerges every 13 years and the other every 17 years.
What is the significance of the double emergence of cicadas this year?
-The double emergence of cicadas is significant because it is a rare event that has not occurred since the days of Thomas Jefferson over 200 years ago.
What is the impact of cicadas on Jerry Blankenship's nursery business?
-Jerry Blankenship, who grows 200,000 trees at his nursery, is concerned about the potential damage from cicadas nesting on his young trees.
What are some practical steps that can be taken to mitigate cicada damage to trees?
-Practical steps include using netting to cover young trees, ensuring the holes in the netting are small to prevent cicadas from crawling out, and keeping the trees wrapped for a couple of weeks until mid-June.
How do cicadas affect the local wildlife and pets?
-Cicadas are harmless to humans and pets, despite their large numbers and the inconvenience they may cause.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Cicada Invasion: The Sonic Boom of Summer 🎶

The video script introduces a massive emergence of cicadas in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States. Two different breeds of cicadas, one that surfaces every 13 years and another every 17 years, are emerging simultaneously, an event not witnessed for over two centuries. The reporter, Kathy Park, discusses the phenomenon known as 'Cicadas-geddon,' highlighting the bugs' considerable numbers—predicted to be over a trillion—which could stretch to the moon and back 33 times if lined up end to end. The cicadas' loud mating calls are compared to the noise of a lawnmower or a passing jet, and their chorus has become so loud that residents in Newberry County, South Carolina, have reported the noise to local authorities. Despite the nuisance, cicadas are harmless to humans and pets, and are even beneficial to the environment as their decomposition provides nutrients to the soil. The script offers advice on how to protect young trees from nesting cicadas using netting and suggests using a leaf blower for a quick cleanup. The segment emphasizes the cicadas' temporary stay and their role in the ecosystem, likening their contribution to free fertilizer for the soil.

05:02

🌳 Leaf Blower: A Quick Fix for Cicada Swarms 🌳

The second paragraph of the script briefly touches on an alternative solution for dealing with the overwhelming number of cicadas. It suggests using a leaf blower as an efficient method to clear away the cicadas from affected areas. This quick fix is presented as a practical and straightforward approach for those who have not yet experienced the cicada invasion and are seeking immediate relief from the swarming insects.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cicadas

Cicadas are insects known for their loud songs, especially during mating season. They are the main subject of the video, with a focus on their emergence in large numbers in the Southeast and Midwest regions. The video discusses the impact of their presence on the environment and human life.

💡Emergence

The term 'emergence' refers to the time when cicadas come out of the ground in large numbers. It is a key event in the cicadas' life cycle and is central to the video's narrative, as it is the reason for the widespread attention and concern.

💡Cicada broods

Cicada broods are groups of cicadas that emerge at different intervals, such as every 13 or 17 years. The video highlights a rare 'double emergence,' which has not occurred in over 200 years, and is a significant part of the story.

💡Trillion cicadas

The video mentions that over a trillion cicadas are expected to emerge, which is a staggering number that helps to illustrate the scale of the event. It is used to emphasize the magnitude of the cicada invasion.

💡Nursery Capital of the World

This refers to an area near Nashville, which is known for its large number of nurseries and young trees. The video discusses how this area is particularly vulnerable to cicada damage due to the trees being ideal for egg-laying.

💡Netting

Netting is suggested as a protective measure for young trees against cicadas. The video provides practical advice on using materials like cheesecloth or tobacco cloth to cover and protect branches from cicada damage.

💡Cicada song

The 'siren song' of male cicadas is mentioned as a loud noise that they produce to attract mates. The video describes how this collective noise can be as loud as a lawnmower or a passing jet, causing a disturbance.

💡Ecosystem benefits

The video explains that cicadas are beneficial to the environment. When they emerge, they aerate the soil, and when they die, their bodies break down to provide nutrients, acting as a natural fertilizer.

💡Lawn blower

As a quick fix for dealing with the large number of cicadas, the video suggests using a lawn blower to remove them from areas. This is presented as a practical and efficient solution for homeowners.

💡Cicada invasion

The term 'invasion' is used to describe the overwhelming presence of cicadas in certain areas. It is a central theme of the video, as it discusses the impact of this invasion on people's daily lives and the environment.

💡Cicada-geddon

This is a playful term used in the video to describe the large-scale emergence of cicadas. It captures the dramatic and somewhat apocalyptic tone of the event, making it a memorable part of the video's narrative.

Highlights

Cicadas are emerging in large numbers in parts of the Southeast and Midwest, with up to a trillion of them invading over the next month.

This is due to two different breeds of cicadas emerging at the same time this year, something not seen in over 200 years.

Cicadas are causing a stir everywhere they land, taking over backyards and trees.

One cicada group emerges every 13 years, while another emerges every 17 years. This month, a rare double emergence is expected.

Experts predict over a trillion cicadas will emerge, enough to line end to end from the Earth to the moon and back 33 times.

Nursery owner Jerry Blankenship is concerned about the damage cicadas can cause to his 200,000 young trees.

Cicadas prefer to lay their eggs on soft, certain-sized twigs or branches.

Homeowners can use netting like cheesecloth or tobacco cloth to protect tree branches from nesting cicadas.

Cicadas will be around for 4-6 weeks, using a loud mating call that can be as loud as a lawnmower or passing jet.

The noise from the cicadas' chorus can potentially be harmful, exceeding OSHA's safe noise levels in some areas.

Residents in Newberry County, South Carolina are reporting the loud cicada noise to the sheriff.

While they may be a nuisance, cicadas are harmless to humans and pets.

Cicadas are actually beneficial for the environment, aerating the soil when they emerge and providing nutrients when they die.

Using bug spray on cicadas is not effective and can harm other beneficial insects.

Netting is a good option to protect young trees from cicadas if you haven't experienced an invasion yet.

A quick fix to remove cicadas is using a leaf blower to blow them away.