Periodical Cicadas
by Kazuhiro Matsuo
In this essay, I researched about cicadas. According to the Homepage of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Insect Division, cicadas are flying, plant sucking insects of the Order Hemiptera; their closest relatives are leafhoppers, treehoppers. Adult cicadas tend to be large (most are 25-50mm), with prominent wide-set eyes, short antennae, and clear wings held roof-like over the abdomen. Cicadas are probably best known for their conspicuous acoustic signals or "songs", which the males make using specialized structures called tymbals, found on the abdomen (2004). The Japanese call it "Semi".
I am interested in this topic because this year seventeen years cicadas will increase explosively in the U.S.
I heard there are so many cicadas that Americans can't walk on the streets. I want to discover what the ecology of the cicada is, and how they differ from normal cicadas. Furthermore I want to discover how they affect our life. Whether they are dangerous and whether we can make use of them.
What is the ecology of the cicada? How do they differ from normal cicadas? According to the Homepage of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Insect Division, there are two types of cicadas. One is the annual cicada, another is the periodical cicada. The seventeen years cicada and the thirteen years cicada are the later.
They belong to the genus Magi cicada. There are twelve types of the seventeen years cicada. These types of cicada will increase explosively (Ibid 2004). (Table 1)
I think they are not different from annual cicadas. Because they both eat sap, the both males sing, the both nymphs live underground. And both adult cicadas can live one summer. Only the span of life is different. The annual cicadas live two-eight years.
The periodical cicadas live thirteen or seventeen years (Ibid 2004). Kricher and Morrison claim that the thirteen or seventeen year period relates very directly to reproducing success because both numbers, 13 and 17, as prime numbers, are only divisible by themselves and one. "This characteristic assures that predators with shorter life cycles will not evolve to synchronize their life cycles with the cicadas." (1998)
I have briefly covered the ecology of the periodical cicadas and how they differ from others. Next I will explain how they affect our life, whether they are dangerous and whether we can make use of them. In 1969, they were as many as 1.5 million per acre.
They are harmless basically. But, they eat sap to live each day. So, small shrubs and bushes are in danger. Too many cicadas harm them.I think they are harmless. But if they are too many, I would be made to feel sick.
This topic is similar to the outbreak of locusts. Because both cases they increase explosively. A few of them are harmless. But being too many is dangerous, harmful, and problem. 1.5million per acre means 375 per a square meter! I was surprised. Being too many is problem for any creature.
Can we make use of them? Can we eat them? I researched, and I found recipe of "Soft-Shelled Cicadas" attached as Appendix A.
The periodical cicadas will increase explosively this year in U.S. They are not so different from annual cicadas. Only lifespan is different. They are harmless, but being too many sometimes causes problem. The farmers of shrubs and bushes should take care. They eat sap. If you are hungry and have nothing to eat, would you try to eat them?
Bibliography
Author not named (2004) The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Insect Division, Updated 14 May 2004
http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/magicicada/Periodical/
Author not named (2004) CICADA-LICIOUS
http://www.urhome.umd.edu/newsdesk/prof/cicadaresipes.PDF
Kricher J.C. and Morrison G. (2004) Eastern Forests, Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin. Pp441-2
Appendices
Appendix A.
Table 1
Appendix B.
Recipe for Soft-Shelled Cicadas (CICADA-LICIOUS 2004)
Ingredients
1 cup Worcestershire sauce
60 freshly emerged 17years cicadas
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups flour
Salt and pepper to season flower
1 cup corn oil or slightly salted butter
Directions
Marinate cicadas, alive in a sealed container, in Worcestershire sauce for several hours.
Dip them, in beaten egg, roll them in the seasoned flower and then gentry sauté them until they are golden brown.
Yield
4 main dish servings
