‘It’s fear-mongering vastly, vastly blown out of proportion. There’s a variety of fact to it, the factor is the fear-mongering on social media.’
Cicadas defined: Three details about buzzing bugs
Still have questions on cicadas? We discover the lifespan of cicadas, what they eat and whether or not they’re dangerous to people or pets.
It’s a historic occasion on the planet of bugs. Two broods of periodic cicadas will emerge in the identical yr for the primary time in over 200 years and billions of the singing bugs are anticipated to be heard quickly.
But together with the bugs’ emergence beginning in mid-May in components of Mississippi and elsewhere, are swarms of venomous copperhead snakes anticipated, too?
Brood XIX is one group that can emerge this yr. Because they solely emerge each 13 years, that is sufficient to trigger pleasure amongst cicada-lovers, however that is not what all of the hoopla is about. A 17-year brood can even emerge this yr: Brood XIII.
According to Cicada Safari, that is an uncommon occasion. The final time these broods hatched in the identical yr was 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was president and Lewis and Clark had been within the beginnings of their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. It was additionally 14 years earlier than Mississippi turned a state.
However, there’s one other aspect to the occasion. According to varied posts on social media, the rising cicadas entice venomous copperhead snakes that make their option to bases of bushes to dine of the bugs. In some circumstances, posters declare the snakes are all over the place throughout such occasions and greater than a dozen could be present in a single yard. Some posts embrace a photograph of a number of copperheads on and close to the bottom of a tree.
More: Will Mississippi see a cicada invasion in 2024? | Curious Mississippi solutions
Do cicadas entice copperhead snakes?
So, is it true? According to Mississippi herpetologist Terry Vandeventer, sure, however it’s blown out of proportion.
“It’s fear-mongering vastly, vastly blown out of proportion,” Vandeventer stated. “There’s a variety of fact to it, the factor is the fear-mongering on social media.
“People must do their fact-checking. Just as a result of it is on social media doesn’t suggest it is true.”
According to Cicada Safari, the bugs style like canned asparagus, however the taste most likely is not why the reptiles take pleasure in them.
“They’re actually wealthy in protein,” Vandeventer stated. “They have extra protein than a mouse.
“It’s a favourite meals. They love them. It’s a simple meal with a variety of bang for his or her buck. Copperheads eat a variety of bugs. They eat cicadas, they eat katydids, they eat caterpillars. Again, it is protein.”
More: Mississippi man finds bone from ice age apex predator, saber-toothed tiger
A pile of copperheads beneath one tree?
So, what about quite a few copperheads round a single tree as if it is a buffet line? Vandeventer stated it does occur, however the chance of it’s slim.
“Very few folks have had the chance to witness this,” Vandeventer stated. “I’ve by no means seen it.
“It’s uncommon to see these giant aggregations beneath bushes. It’s extremely uncommon. When they do, they report it to a newspaper or a radio station and it will get blown up greater than it truly is.”
So, what do you do in the event you encounter a copperhead through the cicada hatch? Vandeventer’s recommendation has been the identical for many years.
“Take two steps again and walk away.”
Mississippi counties the place cicada Brood XIX will emerge
Mississippi experiences smaller annual emergences of cicadas every summer season, however listed below are the counties the place Brood XIX is anticipated to emerge in giant numbers.
- Chickasaw County
- Choctaw County
- Clay County
- Itawamba County
- Jasper County
- Kemper County
- Leake County
- Lee County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Newton County
- Neshoba County
- Noxubee County
- Oktibeha County
- Pontotoc County
- Scott County
- Winston County
Do you may have a narrative thought? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or [email protected].
