Periodical cicadas will emerge across New Jersey this spring after spending 17 years underground. Known as Brood XIV, this natural event will also take place in states like Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Still, according to Patch, the cicada emergence will only bring a fraction of the billions of cicadas that emerged from underground during the dual cicada emergence of 2024.
The cicadas surface when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically happens from mid-April to mid-May, depending on the weather. Once above ground, they produce a deafening chorus as males call for mates. Their sound can reach up to 100 decibels, as loud as heavy machinery.
Unlike annual cicadas that appear every summer, periodical cicadas emerge in massive numbers only every 13 or 17 years. Scientists believe this strategy helps them avoid predators by overwhelming them with sheer numbers.
Cicadas are harmless to humans and pets, though their exoskeletons can cause mild digestive issues for animals that eat them. Their emergence is brief, lasting only a few weeks, but offers a rare chance to witness one of nature’s most fascinating life cycles.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
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