Insects Invasion In South U.S.

May 11 2011           1

NASHVILLE – Millions of insects are invading Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

The Cicada usually has its burrow underground and is rarely seen by people.

But once every 13 years or so, the flying, noisy critters creep to the surface to look for a mate.  The insects are capable of producing 100 decibels of sound by rubbing their wings together faster than the eye can see.

The insects larva live below ground for about 13 years, the time it takes for the incubants to become an adult, all the while feeding on  the roots of plants.  Then the insects climb to the surface to shed their shells, stretch their wings and look for a mate.

The critters spend about five to six weeks searching for a mate continuously making the high-pitch loud noise, piercing enough to drive humans wild before disappearing underground again for the next 13 years.

Scientists know little about this bug and are in a hurry to learn more about it while the insects are in overabundance above ground and before it harbors back underground or they’ll have to wait till 2024 to further their studies of the insect.

Nancy Hinkle, a professor of the department of entomology at the University of Georgia, told CVN News that these 13-year cicadas, also known as periodical cicadas, belong to Brood XIX in Georgia. There are other periodical cicadas in the U.S. that only appear every 17 years.

Cicadas are harmless creatures and don’t sting or bite but are a nuisance.  The sound they make however is deafening and before going back underground, they leave millions of larva skins behind.

According to the Jackson Sun, the red-eyed cicadas can even be eaten, and in some countries “are considered delicacies because of the high amount of protein they provide.”

 

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One Response to “Insects Invasion In South U.S.”

1. Invasion Of The Horror Ants
   

   October 5th, 2011 at 11:04 am

   [...] the insects. Thus far, feeding or spraying the ants with poison has had little success.READ:  Insect Invasion in South United States  Climate Changes Shrink Animals  Giant Warrior Wasp Found In Indonesia Got A Story? [...]

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