Mammoth Cave National Park wants you to know that the Brood XIV Cicadas "they're heeeere!"

Why Do Cicadas Scream?

Summertime may not officially be here yet, but signs of summertime certainly are. One of the most noticeable signs of summertime is when cicadas emerge and scream in the trees. I've seen the memes about cicadas, and honestly, I get it. I also wish I could awake from my slumber and scream from the trees sometimes, too. But why do cicadas scream? They don't have bills or meetings that could have been emails, so what are they so mad about?

Photo by Jody Confer on Unsplash

Well, like almost all weird things animals do, the signature cicada sound has to do with mating and territory. According to Britannica, only the male cicadas make this sound with an organ they have called a tymbal muscle. Britannica says that this sound is made to establish a territory and attract a female. Nothing says "wow, I want to make offspring with this guy" like hearing him yell about his territory. This summer is about to get really loud as a cicada brood is emerging.

They're Heeeeere!

Mammoth Cave National Park took to Facebook to talk about these little loud weirdos, and kicked off the conversation with a quote from Poltergeist (and maybe also cicadas).

“I woke up, I started screaming.” — Diane Freeling in Poltergeist & this cicada...probably.

Photo by Ashlee Marie on Unsplash

Brood XIV periodical cicadas are emerging, and millions of cicadas will soon be making a whole lot of noise throughout Mammoth Cave National Park. This particular brood has been underground for more than 10 years, so they've got a lot of pent-up screaming to do (okay, I know they aren't really "screaming" but humor me here).

Mammoth Cave National Park Prepares for the Biggest Scream of the Summer

This summer is about to get LOUD at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash

Here's what Mammoth Cave National Park has to say about how loud the park is going to be this summer:

They're heeeeere! Prepare for the biggest scream fest of the summer as millions of Brood XIV periodical cicadas emerge! These insects have been silently waiting to claw their way out of the ground for nearly two decades and now they want to make sure you know all about it. With their ability to produce sounds at upwards of 100 decibels, these bugs just might replace the neighbor’s lawn mower as your Saturday morning wake-up call. Talk about a disturbance!

Despite their noisy disposition, these remarkable insects play a vital role in the ecosystem. #Cicadas contribute to soil health and promote healthy plant growth through their burrowing behavior which aerates the ground and facilitates nutrient circulation. Their massive emergences also provide a feast for predators like snakes and birds, boosting biodiversity in the environment.
Learn more about these fascinating creatures at: https://ow.ly/NfkI50VUelo (Screaming optional.)

So be on the lookout for cicadas this summer, and if it seems like they are extra loud this year, you know to blame Brood XIV!