How do cicadas know when to emerge? 'The Indiana Jones of cicadas' answers your Brood X questions

Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY
·1 min read

Countless cicadas have begun to emerge from underground for the first time in 17 years, and they may pop up in a backyard near you.

Brood X cicadas have been spotted in many parts of the country and are expected in at least 15 states: Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.

Since these type of cicadas have not been seen since 2004, some might know little about them or have questions about their presence.

Gene Kritsky might be able to help with that.

USA TODAY hosted Kritsky, also known as "the Indiana Jones of cicadas," for an "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session on Reddit about Brood X. A professor of biology and dean of behavioral and natural sciences at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Kritsky has published works on cicadas and has rolled out an app this year, Cicada Safari, so everyday citizens can help track cicada sightings across the U.S.

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Gene Kritsky, dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University, stands with a case of preserved cicadas in his university office in Delhi Township, Ohio, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Kritsky has a collection of thousands of samples, dating back decades.
Gene Kritsky, dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University, stands with a case of preserved cicadas in his university office in Delhi Township, Ohio, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Kritsky has a collection of thousands of samples, dating back decades.

Here are some of the best questions and answers from Kritsky's Tuesday AMA. You can view the full AMA here.

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Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jord_mendoza.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brood X cicada expert Gene Kritsky takes questions, gives fun facts