Today’s Google Doodle
I was definitely curious about today’s Google Doodle, and even more so when I heard what it was about: The rare event known as a “double cicada brood” that’s happening this year. Google refers to this as “cicada-geddon” and it really is an astonishing phenomenon.
Cicadas are common enough critters, at least ‘round these parts. There are many different kinds. Here’s one from Brood X, taken back in 2021 in Columbia, Maryland. This particular Brood lived underground for 17 years before emerging.
COLUMBIA, MD – JUNE 03: A drop of water lands on the back of a periodical cicada, a member of Brood … [+]
In 2024, two different groups—or broods—of cicadas will emerge at the same time. Brood XIII and Brood XIX will both crawl out of the soil this year. This is the first time in 200 years that two groups of cicadas have flown together. The last time this occurred was in 1803!
Brood XIII emerges every 17 years in northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, northwestern Indiana, southwestern Michigan and eastern Iowa. Brood XIX is a 13-year group mainly found in southern Illinois and much of Missouri, with some found in Virginia. In central Illinois, both broods could overlap.
According to the US Forest Service:
Literally trillions of the insects will gradually emerge and begin their daily raucous chorus, for the joy of some people and annoyance of others. So many cicadas will make their noise at once in some places that sound levels might reach upward of 90 to 120 decibels, equivalent to a gas-powered lawnmower or motorcycle.
But at least the cicadas observe quiet hours. Unlike some other insect species, cicadas “sing” during the day, producing their sound by expanding and contracting a membrane called a tymbal. And be grateful that only male cicadas sing, in their efforts to attract females for mating.
That’s pretty wild! Science is cool!
Less fun is the damage cicadas can cause to trees that they feed on, including oak, hickory, apple trees and birch or dogwood. Thankfully, while they’re noisy—and their mass deaths leave shells littered about everywhere—they don’t bite and they’re not poisonous.