Bay Weekly

Apps and website launch cicadas into the 21st century

By Matt Liptak

Brood X is coming to a Chesapeake neighborhood near you. Those familiar with the abundant buggers can expect to once again be impacted by their sudden appearance. Usually that means someone exclaiming “Eww, gross,” or “Hey, cool!”, depending on their attitude toward flying insects. 

But technology is now interacting with these high-decibel critters to help bring them down to Earth and help make them a bit more understandable.  

The following two apps and website are worth checking out: 

  1. Cicada Safari: Find out more about cicadas and become a citizen scientist in tracking them, by downloading “Cicada Safari” in the Google Play Store. Dr. Gene Krtisky is working with the Center for IT Engagement at Mt. St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, enlisting the public to help track the cicada emergence. You can view the observations of your neighbors on this app. There have already been multiple reports in our area. 
  1. Cicada Ringtone: Just can’t get enough of the bumbling bugs? Get a cell phone ringtone of them serenading you. With the “Cicada Ringtone” app, it’s quite simple to listen and download the specific cicada melody of your choice. This is a basic app with less than a dozen ringtones to choose from. But there are other apps on Google Play that let you sample many musical renditions of the various broods. 
  1. CicadiaMania.com: For the most fun you can have with an insect, turn to CicadaMania.com. Find cicada mugs, t-shirts, play Cicada Bingo and watch cicada videos. 

 Get your cicada-binging in while you can. Once the excitement is over, Brood X will be going underground again for another 17 years.