Where are all the cicadas? First of all, what are cicadas? Cicadas are insects, so yes this post is about insects. They are a unique insect though, certainly worthy of a post of their own!

There are many different types of cicadas, but the most well-known type is one that hibernates for 17 years then comes out to “sing,” mate, and then die.  Yes, you read that right, cicadas spend 17 years sleeping away in the ground, until they pop out of the earth, then the males make a unique chirping noise, like a song, to attract the females in order to mate, then the cicadas die and the whole 17-year process begins again! The sound the cicadas make during this short time they live above ground is quite impressive especially when there are hundreds and thousands of them making this sound all at once, which often happens because they tend to all emerge from their 17-year hibernation all at once.

Here is YouTube video of a cicada starting to chip/sing:

So, the cicadas are due for their once in 17 year appearance, but unfortunately something seems to have gone wrong because the cicadas on the Eastern Coast of the United States have overslept!  They were supposed to be here in May (of 2013), but still have not arrived! In fact, people are so confused about what is going on with the cicadas that it has made the news.  Here is a recent radio news program about the missing cicadas.  This is a great piece to listen to because the language is clearly spoken and at a reasonable pace. Take a listen to learn a little more about our missing cicadas here on the East Coast of the United States.

http://cnnradio.cnn.com/2013/06/05/where-are-the-cicadas-already/

Here is some vocabulary to help you understand this news article:

gimmick – a trick to attract attention

bust – a disappointment or ‘let down’

chirp – a short, sharp, high-pitched sound usually made by birds or insects

nymph – a young cicada

emerge – to move out of something or come into view

noisy – making a lot of noise or sound

entomology – the scientific study of insects

brood(s) – a family or large group

modem – a device used to transmit data to or from a computer via telephone or other communication lines

swarm – a large group of insects flying together

So, what do you think, will the cicadas be swarming Washington, DC and New York City soon? What do you think has happened to them?