WASHINGTON (March 24, 2021) — Brood X cicadas, also known as the Great Eastern Brood, will reemerge sometime in May after 17 years underground. According to experts, the insects will blanket several states in the east, especially in areas with established trees, such as forests, parks, and even urban and suburban neighborhoods.
The George Washington University has leading experts available to discuss various aspects of the upcoming cicada emergence, including how long they will be around, why they make so much noise and whether you should keep one as a pet. They can also dispel some common myths about the harmless insects.
John Lill is chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at GW. Lill teaches courses in conservation biology, plant-animal interactions and insect biology. His research focuses on the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions. Currently, he is investigating the effects of climate change on species interactions and the timing of seasonal events for both plants and insects, including cicadas.
Zoe Getman-Pickering is a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences at GW. Her current research includes examining the ways that the cicada emergence is likely to alter the ecology of local forest communities. Getman-Pickering also developed Leafbyte, an app used to measure leaf area and herbivory, which the GW team is using to track anticipated changes in leaf damage during the cicada emergence.
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