17-year cicadas to emerge

CANFIELD — Later this spring, the western half of the Mahoning Valley will be abuzz as 17-year cicadas emerge, according to the extension office.

The insects are likely to emerge from the ground on or about May 10 and remain active for two to three weeks, said Eric Barrett, Ohio State University extension educator.

“Several warm days and several warm rains could speed that up; or a couple of snowfalls, or some cold, 35-degree rains could slow that down,” he said of the emergence timetable.

The cicadas are eight inches below the surface; and they’ll emerge when the temperature at that level reaches 65.5 degrees Fahrenheit, he said.

Currently, the soil temperature eight inches underground is about 42 degrees, he observed.

The cicadas will leave emergence holes in the ground and exoskeletons at the bases of trees.

“It’ll be deafening,” Barrett said of the buzzing during the day.

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