How Do Cicadas Know to Wake Up Every 17 Years?….They Have Circadian Rhythm!!
It’s very busy in the Greenhouse everything is now planted and a lot transplanted. The weather has been wonderful and the days much longer, I even saw my first Humming Bird today another promising sign of Spring! While I transplant I often listen to the news and while listening the other day was amazed to hear about a phenomena that immediately caught my attention regarding a biblical proportioned emergence of the Red Eyed Periodical Cicada.
While I was listening I thought I heard the news announcer say that they would feed on many things including cats and small dogs. This caused me to whip my head up so quickly I’m surprised I didn’t get whiplash. Further investigation proves this totally erroneous. This creature will be the largest emergence since 1803 and their numbers will be in the trillions if not quadrillions which is believed to be over a million per acre. The next emergence will not occur again until 2037 the reason for this vast amount of years difference is that it only occurs on years that are Prime Numbers. I guess they were paying attention in math class. Fortunately we will not be experiencing this anywhere in Canada but 16 states in the South West and Mid West of the U.S.A will have all the joy.
Even though they do not eat cats or dogs or any insects they can cause damage to small trees and fruit crops by sucking the liquid from the roots of plants. They also are extremely noisy with mating calls that with combined voices will reach 110 decibels, as loud as jet engines and they will sing through the night and love hot sunny days. This will continue through the mating and egg laying period of 4 or 5 weeks. Once they have laid their eggs in the groves of branches they will die leaving their bodies behind to clean up. These eggs will hatch from the tree branch grooves, fall to the ground where they will burrow into the soil to tap into the root systems.
The Cicada grows to a length of about 2 inches with a wing span that can reach 3 inches guaranteeing you can’t miss them. At least they don’t bite or sting. They will be heavily preyed on by birds, bats, wasps, spiders, snakes and other reptiles. House pets too may indulge but this should not be a problem unless they overindulge or are allergic. They are very popular in Japan as a food source and are high in vitamins, minerals, protein and amino acids. This event, should you want to attend, will occur around mid May which due to Climate Change is a little earlier than it would normally have been as it needs the soil temperature to be around 18 degrees Celsius. You couldn’t pay me to go.
One event that will be happening that I highly recommend your attendance is the Emergency Preparedness Seminar that will be happening this Thursday, April 18th at the White Valley Community Center at 6:30 until 8:30 and is free of charge. I hope it will be an eye opening, educational event again I highly recommend it considering the on going worry of a hectic fire season.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
