What: The 2021 Invasion of Cicadas — “Brood X” — “Periodic Cicadas”
- There are approximately 3,000 different species of cicadas.
- Many breeds of cicadas appear yearly — “Annual Cicadas,” but the “Periodic Cicadas” appear every 13 to 17 years in great force.
- There are approximately 15 species of “Periodic Cicadas.”
- “Periodic cicadas only surface for about two months.”
- “Cicadas also leave behind cast skins—brown husks that are discarded as young cicadas (nymphs) grow. When a cicada invasion strikes, you can find these molts all over the place.”
- “They are loud, but the sound and volume varies. Cicada “songs” can reach 90 decibels, which is “as loud as a lawn mower, dirt bike, or tractor” . . . The buzzing and clicking has been compared to “the whining of electrical wires rising and falling.” For one annual species in the Midwest, “the song sounds like someone is pressing scissors against a grind wheel in rapid succession,” according to Iowa State University.
- “The mass emergence of periodical cicadas is a phenomenon that is incredible to witness. . . . If you attempt to kill them, you are robbing future generations of witnessing these emergence events.” — probably not based on the numbers. — from Prevention magazine
- They are a food source for many other animals (especially killer wasps), and are also used for human consumption.
When: The Summer of 2021
Where: The 17-year species of “Brood X” will appear primarily in the northeastern United States — Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Tennessee. The 13-year species of “Brood X” will appear primarily further south.
“In the next few weeks, when soil temperatures at eight inches deep reach 64 degrees, and there is a soaking rain, the Brood X Periodical cicadas will begin emerging in large numbers in portions of New Jersey. But don’t be fooled by the media hype, Brood X in New Jersey, while large, has a limited distribution largely centered on the western counties. These cicadas have been underground as nymphs feeding on tree roots since they hatched seventeen years ago during the last Brood X emergence in 2004. Periodical cicadas have a fascinating life history and have intrigued scientists for centuries. Periodical cicadas (four 13 year and three 17 year species), emerge in different places and years and each is designated by a Brood numbering system developed in 1893 by the federal entomologist, Charles L. Marlatt that is still being used.
Brood X was first documented in Philadelphia in 1715 by the Reverend Andreas Sandal and has been continually observed every seventeen years for the past three centuries. Brood X is the largest of the 17-year cicada broods by geographic extent, occurring in 15 states. They emerge in vast numbers (millions, billions, maybe trillions) across their range. At a given location where there is a large emergence their singing can be deafening.”
— from plague new jersey
Songs Inspired By The Invasion Of The Cicadas: Note: Cicadas are NOT a species of locust.
“Back in 1970, three cycles ago, Brood X’s buzz-saw-like calls inspired Bob Dylan to write the song “Day of the Locusts.” Dylan heard the cicadas while receiving an honorary degree from Princeton University and the insects inspired these lyrics:
As I stepped to the stage to pick up my degree
And the locusts sang off in the distance
Yeah, the locusts sang such a sweet melody
Oh, the locusts sang off in the distance
Yeah, the locusts sang and they were singing for me
The 1936 Ogden Nash poem “Locust-lovers, attention!” was also inspired by Brood X. The work was first published in the New Yorker and was later collected in Nash’s book I’m a Stranger Here Myself. Here’s a snippet:
Overhead, underfoot, they abound
And they have been seventeen years in the ground.
For seventeen years they were immune to politics and class war
and capital taunts and labor taunts,
And now they have come out like billions of insect debutantes
— from the Smithsonian
. . . . .
Key Biblical Thoughts:
- creation
- Ecclesiastes 1:4-7
- prophecy / predictions
- the unseen
- a day on the calendar
- in the process of time
- hidden but coming
- I show you a mystery
- graduation day
. . . . .
Sermonic Example:
[Use whatever details you find useful and interesting]
Listen to what that article states . . . . “These cicadas have been underground . . . . feeding on tree roots since they hatched seventeen years ago.” In 2004 they were hatched — unseen — on the roots of the trees — underground– and now, 17 years later, that activity is going to come to the surface. It will be seen by the millions — up to one million of them per acre in some areas of the states.
In the process of time — in the fullness of time — what took place 13 or 17 years ago is going to be fully revealed across the northeastern and southern states of the United States. What was hidden — what began years ago will be deafening and irritating to thousands of Americans! It will be the talk of the towns and counties that will have been invaded by them. Some will say — “What else can happen in 2020-2021!” . . . . . But it isn’t another example of the 2020-2021 years — it was put in place in 2004 long before the events of these last two years could have ever been foreseen or known.
. . . . .
Othe Information & Links:
— https://www.prevention.com/life/a32670585/what-is-cicada/
— https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-cicadas-180977361/
— https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-cicadas-180977361/
RhetoricAndHomiletics.Org 