Noise Invasion

They only wiggle out of the earth every 17 years. But for Bloomington residents, the emerging cicada -- "Brood X" to entomologists -- poses a significant concern. People unaccustomed to rural wildlife are unfamiliar with the migration patterns of the insect, parents fret over children coming in contact with them and gardeners worry over prized plants. \nYet cicadas are a periodical insect, meaning that their emergence is sporadic but calculated. This summer, they will be in the Midwest and more active than usual for a variety of reasons. \nCliff Sadof, a Purdue University professor, said the best advice in dealing with cicadas is to "do nothing." Cicadas are relatively harmless insects and are not here to intentionally damage trees, shrubs or humans, he said.\nIU Professor of Geography John Odland, who received a National Science Foundation grant to study the insect, recommends numerous precautions for Bloomington residents concerned with the cicadas' migration into town. \n"Try to ignore them as much as possible, but if you kill one keep in mind that while it may cause you personal spiritual damage, there are plenty of cicadas out there," Odland said. \nHe also advised local residents to walk on sidewalks, where cicadas are less likely to be underfoot.\nBy the end of May and the beginning of June, officials will be flagging twigs that have been injured by egg-laying cicadas, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. \nOdland said the brood accomplishes reproductive success when they are out in full force. Males cluster on trees and emit loud calls so females will come to mate. And as for the constant hum, Odland said the noise is localized. \n"It will get louder," he said. "The cicadas are present in such large numbers that they will survive. What they accomplish by their emergence is predator satiation," meaning predators have more cicadas than they can eat. \nOdland also recommended not swatting at the bug and advises against sauteing and eating the insects. A few weeks ago, a Bloomington resident suffered an allergic reaction after ingesting more than 30 cicadas, according to The Associated Press.\nMoreover, some local apartment complexes have acted to educate residents about the problem. Deer Park Management, for example, has lawn care professionals who are on hand and taking care of any issues the cicadas present, said staff member Melissa Jones.\nBut Monroe County isn't the only place facing insect problems. The Illinois Department of Agriculture recently quarantined the Asian Longhorned Beetle. Chicago area residents are forbidden to remove "Asian Longhorned Beetle host material," according to the Illinois DOA Web site. They were merely advised to watch out for the bug -- much like Indiana residents are encouraged to look for signs of the cicada during the summer months.\nProfessor Sadof advises local residents to familiarize themselves with their emergence periods and delay pruning of plants and trees until after the cicadas disappear. \n-- Contact staff writer Janna Ingle at jarthur@indiana.edu.