Ready to hear the sound of millions of Brood X cicadas singing? It's almost time.
The mass emergence of cicadas is about to happen and we're on cicada watch - keeping an eye on ground temperatures, the Cicada Safari app and social media to see what our favorite periodical pests are up to.
Gene Kritsky, a leading cicada expert and entomologist at Mount St. Joseph University says Greater Cincinnati typically sees emergence in mid-May after two days in a row with temperatures above 80 degrees and there's been a "soaking rain."
"For the past couple of years, it's been the second day that our temperatures have reached the low 80s," Kritsky said.
We have the perfect conditions:
- Soaking rains — check
- Day 1 with temperatures in the 80s — Wednesday's high is forecast at 81 (The National Weather Service said Tuesday's high was 79, so it was close).
- Day 2 with temperatures in the 80s — Thursday's high is forecast at 84.
Cicadas will begin to emerge in force when ground temperatures hit 64.
The estimated ground temperature in Greater Cincinnati right now is 63.5, according to data from the National Weather Service and a handy equation from Kritsky.
Highs are expected to hit the high 80s starting Thursday, so more and more cicadas will begin to emerge as the week goes on.
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More:'They'll be screaming': See where in Cincinnati the Brood X cicadas will be out in force
What about the ones that have emerged?
The early birds are out, but you likely haven't heard them sing yet because they need a little more time to mature. That will also be the case for the big emergence coming in the next few days.
Five days after they emerge, the cicadas will start singing or screaming to attract a mate.
Male cicadas gather in trees, “screaming away” and when you hear a lull in the sound, that means a male has attracted a female.
“It’s just like one giant cicada singles bar,” Kritsky said.
They'll be loud.
Male cicadas contract ridged membranes on their abdomens to make the sound, which is amplified by their almost-hollow abdomens.
Each species has its own sound, and the chorus can reach 90 to 100 decibels – as loud as a lawnmower, according to CicadaMania.
More:Emergence of Brood X cicadas is nearing. Here's everything you need to know to be prepared
Where have they emerged so far?
If you want to know where Brood X is emerging in real-time, download the Cicada Safari app.
There are currently hundreds of verified pictures around Greater Cincinnati as of May 18. Images of cicada nymphs have been appearing since March.
Right now, the app is showing large clusters around Fort Mitchell, Pleasant Ridge, Oakley, Wyoming, Corryville, North College Hill and Northside.
More:Cicada Safari app allows people to report and track Brood X cicadas
Have you seen the cicadas yet? Share your photo with us by emailing it to [email protected] and include your name and location.
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