The emergence of 2 cicada broods this spring won't impact Long Island, experts say
A Brood XIII cicada waits for its wings and new exoskeleton to dry and harden after climbing and molting on a tree. Credit: TNS/E. Jason Wambsgans
The rare emergence of two cicada broods overlapping in parts of the United States this spring will not impact New York and, on Long Island, the once ubiquitous insects may be disappearing, experts said.
For the first time in 221 years, Brood XIII, located in Midwestern states including Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, will emerge at the same time as Brood XIX, known as the “great Southern brood,” located in 14 Southern states.
Experts believe development and pesticides have taken a toll on the insects here, which were once a staple of the background noise of Long Island.
There are up to 25 cycles, or “broods” of cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years throughout the United States and survive by feeding on roots, said Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, senior extension associate and entomologist for New York's Integrated Pest Management program at Cornell University.
The black-bodied, red-eyed insects emerge around late May and live for about two weeks, laying their eggs on trees. The larvae develop in tree branches, fall and find their way underground, where they will live for the next 13 or 17 years.
Other species of cicadas, which emerge annually around late June, are green and have black eyes.
“They’re harmless ... they’re noisy ... They’re just cute,” said Gangloff-Kaufmann.
Lisa Filippi, a biology professor at Hofstra University, said periodic cicadas will appear in New York next year, when Brood XIV will emerge north of the Bronx.
But both experts said Long Island will most likely not see those cicadas, which in recent years are showing signs of decline in the region.
In the past 20 years when cicadas were expected to emerge on Long Island, it “had almost nothing,” said Filippi.
In the most recent expected emergence of Brood X in 2021, Gangloff-Kaufmann also said these insects barely made a buzz, calling them essentially extinct on Long Island.
Annual cicadas, which have a slightly different sound than their periodic counterparts, are also becoming more rare.
Both experts believe pesticides and increasing development on Long Island are uprooting the insects. “So much of the places where they're hanging out are being buried under concrete,” said Filippi.
This summer, if you see a cicada or insect, Gangloff-Kaufmann said to let it be.
“People tend to be afraid of insects,” she said. “They tend to crush them, smash them, burn them with fire. I always encourage people to stop and leave it alone. Or appreciate it.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote from Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann and misidentified the brood emerging north of the Bronx next year, which is Brood XIV.
The rare emergence of two cicada broods overlapping in parts of the United States this spring will not impact New York and, on Long Island, the once ubiquitous insects may be disappearing, experts said.
For the first time in 221 years, Brood XIII, located in Midwestern states including Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, will emerge at the same time as Brood XIX, known as the “great Southern brood,” located in 14 Southern states.
Experts believe development and pesticides have taken a toll on the insects here, which were once a staple of the background noise of Long Island.
There are up to 25 cycles, or “broods” of cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years throughout the United States and survive by feeding on roots, said Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, senior extension associate and entomologist for New York's Integrated Pest Management program at Cornell University.
The black-bodied, red-eyed insects emerge around late May and live for about two weeks, laying their eggs on trees. The larvae develop in tree branches, fall and find their way underground, where they will live for the next 13 or 17 years.
Other species of cicadas, which emerge annually around late June, are green and have black eyes.
“They’re harmless ... they’re noisy ... They’re just cute,” said Gangloff-Kaufmann.
Lisa Filippi, a biology professor at Hofstra University, said periodic cicadas will appear in New York next year, when Brood XIV will emerge north of the Bronx.
But both experts said Long Island will most likely not see those cicadas, which in recent years are showing signs of decline in the region.
In the past 20 years when cicadas were expected to emerge on Long Island, it “had almost nothing,” said Filippi.
In the most recent expected emergence of Brood X in 2021, Gangloff-Kaufmann also said these insects barely made a buzz, calling them essentially extinct on Long Island.
Annual cicadas, which have a slightly different sound than their periodic counterparts, are also becoming more rare.
Both experts believe pesticides and increasing development on Long Island are uprooting the insects. “So much of the places where they're hanging out are being buried under concrete,” said Filippi.
This summer, if you see a cicada or insect, Gangloff-Kaufmann said to let it be.
“People tend to be afraid of insects,” she said. “They tend to crush them, smash them, burn them with fire. I always encourage people to stop and leave it alone. Or appreciate it.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote from Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann and misidentified the brood emerging north of the Bronx next year, which is Brood XIV.
Updated 50 minutes ago Details on the charges in body-parts case ... LIRR discounts in NYC ... BOCES does Billy Joel ... Hottest day of the year
Updated 50 minutes ago Details on the charges in body-parts case ... LIRR discounts in NYC ... BOCES does Billy Joel ... Hottest day of the year
