photo by Dan Mozgai/cicadamania.com
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, beginning in May and ending in late June. These cicadas will begin to emerge approximately when the soil 8″ beneath the ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit. A nice, warm rain will often trigger an emergence. Back in 2004, people began reporting emergences around May, 13th, but if the weather is warmer, it might start in late April. Some observers suggests Cicadas will emerge after the trees have grown leaves, around the same time Iris flowers bloom.
Billions of the 17-year periodical cicadas from Brood X, or the Great Eastern Brood this year are due to emerge in 15 U.S. states including New Jersey in May, give or take a few weeks.
Why do they stay underground for 17-years? The prevailing research suggests they’ve evolved a long, 17-year lifecycle to avoid predators that can sync up with their lifecycle & emergence. Why are there so many?! Research suggests that their huge numbers allow them to overwhelm predators, so enough of them will live on to breed and perpetuate the brood.
