Periodical Cicadas

Book excerpt: Every seventeen years, millions of cicadas rise from the soil of the eastern United States to fly, mate, and fill the air with their noisy song. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition Black and White edition provides a less costly examination of how the study of Brood X cicadas shaped our understanding of these "bugs of history." First documented in Philadelphia in 1715, Brood X was and is the largest of the 17-year cicada broods, occurring in 15 states that include several major cities. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition Black and White discusses the natural history, evolution, behavior, and distribution of periodical cicadas and provides an overview of the eighteen emergences that have occurred since the brood was first reported. It offers a perfect starting point to learn about these insects and to enjoy them as one of the wonders of our natural world.Gene Kritsky, Ph.D., is Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the author of several books, including The Quest for the Perfect Hive and The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt (both published by Oxford University Press). He has researched periodical cicadas for over 45 years, publishing 33 papers and three books on the insects.