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Dr. Elizabeth Barnes explains the difference between Brood X cicadas and other insects
Fact and Fiction: An Entomologist Talks Brood X
Written By: Shawndra Miller
Date Published: June 25, 2021
Shawndra Miller
The arrival of Brood X periodical cicadas—while patchy in Central Indiana—has given us all something to talk about. Love them or leave them, hate them or taste them, their 17-year emergence is a memorable one.
Dr. Elizabeth Barnes, entomologist from Purdue University, shared her expertise during our “cicada happy hour” recently. Bug-lovers young and old gathered at Oliver’s Woods to learn more about these fascinating insects.
With a 17-year cycle, data on these funny-freaky bugs can be a bit spotty. Their range used to be tracked in a fairly low-tech way: Researchers would drive around with their windows open and listen. If they heard the cicadas’ voices, they’d note their presence.
But this time, citizen scientists are helping round out the picture. Through apps like Cicada Safari and Inaturalist, anyone can document where they’ve encountered Brood X.
Learning about Brood X
As Dr. Barnes pointed out, we see cicadas for a mere fraction of their lives. And what we think of as a cicada is just the form they take during this one short phase of their entire lifespan. For about six weeks, these adults amass in large (and loud) numbers to mate. The females lay eggs on young trees, and then the bugs die.
But their young (nymphs) will burrow into the ground under the trees and start feeding and molting over the next 17 years, till their next emergence.
After her overview, questions came fast and thick as the cicadas that have emerged at places like Blossom Hollow in Johnson County.
Is it true they don’t have mouth parts?
Not true, adult cicadas can ingest small amounts of sap from trees.
How do they make that buzzing noise?
The males have a special organ called a tymbal that they can vibrate like a bendy straw. (Females make a sound like a finger snap with their wings.)
Why do they “sing” only during the day?
As insects, they have no internal heat source and must wait for the day to warm up before they can be active. They sing between 10am and 5pm because that’s when the day is warmest.
Is it true you can attract a male by snapping your fingers?
If a male is flying low enough, you can snap your fingers to imitate the female’s sound, and the male will come near. (Watch David Attenborough do just that.)
These little guys are good at math! How, why?
One outdated idea was that the nymphs molt 17 times and then come out, but that’s been debunked. The current theory is that their emergence is based on cycles of trees, as the nymphs are under the ground sipping from tree roots.
Cicadas are edible!
Do they harm the trees?
They evolved alongside our native trees, so they are unlikely to harm them through feeding on their sap underground. Very young trees sometimes struggle to recover when the female adults lay eggs on them.
I read that the DNR gives away $100 if you bring them a blue-eyed cicada, is that true?
There is a persistent story about this mythical blue-eyed cicada—a supposedly rare phenomenon that, sources often say, Indiana DNR will pay you $100 to collect. In truth, the cicadas have red eyes, but when they first emerge, their eyes look milky. This might pass for blue… but there is no $100 payment for collecting them. Sorry!
Will there be a bird boom next year because of Brood X?
Bird populations are expected to increase next year where Brood X has emerged. Cicadas’ emergence means that a large amount of biomass that had been underground for 17 years…is now above ground and available. This benefits birds in two ways. It gives them a plentiful food source, which helps the survival of their chicks. It also gives their predators, such as raccoons, an alternate food source, so more baby birds escape being eaten.
Grace sampling a cicada
What can you tell us about the pathogen that specializes in cicadas?
There is just one: a fungus, and it is simultaneously gruesome and fascinating. It infects the cicadas and replaces the entire abdomen with the fungus. On the males, it affects their brain function, making them stay active though they’ve lost half their body. Infected males click their wings like a female to attract other males. This rapidly spreads the fungus.
On that tasty note, everyone gathered for refreshments, including a “cicada tasting” (optional) (a surprise to the CILTI staff). In case you are curious: baked cicadas taste a bit like charred chicken skin, without being greasy. Safety note: Only try them if you have no allergy to shellfish.
Here’s to the wonders of nature!
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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