As Brood X cicadas are beginning to emerge across the Eastern United States, a podcast developed by the Northern Research Station dove into both the above- and below-ground story of these evolutionary enigmas in a special episode that dropped on May 5, “The Two-sided Story of Periodical Cicadas.”

The episode features two scientists, research entomologist Andrew Liebhold of the Northern Research Station and project leader/research ecologist Mac Callaham of the Southern Research Station, who share the science behind an insect that spends most of its 17 years below ground before emerging en masse. Brood X is the largest brood of periodical cicadas and is emerging or soon-to-emerge in 15 states, stretching from New York to Illinois and as far south as Georgia.

Forestcast invites listeners to use a phone to record how Brood X sounds in their own neighborhood and share it via email to sm.fs.nrsweb@usda.gov, or share on Twitter by tagging @usfs_nrs. Yales plans to check back with Callaham and Liebhold for Brood X updates later in the emergence and share any recordings the station has received.

“More than half of the U.S. population has listened to a podcast, so this is definitely an arena we want to be in with Forest Service science stories,” said Gina Jorgensen, assistant director of Communication for the Northern Research Station. “We are thrilled to be working with Jon [Yales] to share not just the science, but scientists’ fascination with the natural world.” 
The Northern Research Station launched Forestcast in 2020 with a five-part series on invasive insects. “The Two-sided Story of Periodical Cicadas” is the second special episode produced; the first debuted in May 2020 and focused on the factors behind the surprising resurgence of red spruce, “A Window of Resurgence for Red Spruce.”

Forestcast is reported, written, hosted and produced by Jon Yales, an independent podcaster. “Brood X is the solar eclipse of the insect world,” Yales said. “Millions of cicadas burrowing to the surface get a lot of attention, it’s hard to look away. But Forestcast is one of the few podcasts that give scientists a chance to talk about bioturbation and brood overlap—just a few of the overlooked aspects of these endlessly impressive insects.”