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cicada
Exhibit Case at the Museum

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Image and Info. Gallery

Article About the Exhibit

Audio Samples

Cicada Fact Sheet  - (In Adobe PDF format from the Museum Press Office)

SMITHSONIAN EXPERTS:
Smithsonian entomologists are available to answer media questions about the insects that are expected to make their 17-year emergence this spring.

- Nate Erwin, O. Orkin Insect Zoo
- Gary Hevel, Dept. of Entomology

CONTACT Michele Urie, Office of Public Affairs, 202-786-2950,

Treetop Opera

Billions upon billions of periodical cicadas make an historical appearance this spring. The entomological opera stars "Brood X"---the species of 17-year cicadas scheduled to serenade this geographic region with their insistent love songs.

The cicada's curiously long life cycle still confounds scientists. Most theorize that the 13-year and 17-year growing up stage is a defense against predators. Although just about every animal (including humans) feasts on cicadas, their sheer numbers ensure their survival.

Brood X (that's "ten" not "X") is one of twenty broods of periodical cicadas that live in eastern North America . Besides the mid-Atlantic, Brood X appears in Indiana and Ohio , Kentucky , Tennessee , and North Carolina . The last time Brood X appeared was 1987. Its next emergence will be 2021.

Learn more at the links on the right ...

 

[Website Credits]
Special thanks to Nathan Erwin, Director of the NMNH O. Orkin Insect Zoo, Gary Hevel, Public Information Officer with the NMNH Department of Entomology, Sarah Grusin and Tom Thill from NMNH Exhibits, and Chip Clark, with the NMNH Office of the Associate Director for Research and Collections. This site would not have been possible without their expertise, thorough diligence, and creative efforts.

Also thanks to Michael Lipske for his article "They're Back: 17 Year Cicadas" and Harold Dorwin for his Staff photograph, John Cooley with the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology and David Marshall of the University of Connecticut for permission to use their cicada audio files and linked brood maps, and last but not least, special thanks to Amanda Hevel for her permission to use the tymbal image.


 

 

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