In the coming weeks, billions of cicadas will emerge in a dozen eastern U.S. states, including hot spots in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. On Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 7:30 pm, Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands will present a special illustrated slide program on Zoom with Professor George Hamilton entitled: "We're Back!" The Emergence of the Brood X Periodical Cicadas.
Dr. Hamilton will speak about the highly anticipated emergence of the 17-year periodical cicadas, describing their life cycle and natural history, including their singing, their eating habits and survival strategies, and how they might affect your trees.
This group of cicadas, known as Brood X, has been living underground, feeding on tree sap since 1987. When they will appear varies by location, but they usually emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees. For this region, that typically occurs by the third week in May, but in some areas, they are already here.
The cicadas will only live a few weeks above ground, during which time they molt, mate, and die, but only after males have wooed females with ear-splitting calls, and the females have laid their eggs under the bark of tree twigs, starting the 17-year cycle anew.
Dr. Hamilton is Chair of the Department of Entomology and Director of the Rutgers Graduate Program in Entomology. His research has included evaluating alternative methods of controlling insect pests, including the Asian Tiger Mosquito, and understanding the pest potential of brown marmorated stink bugs.
Please pre-register and receive the link to attend this talk by contacting karenlinder@fpnl.org or by calling 609-683-0483. The talk is free and all are welcome.
