Brood XI

Last updated

Brood XI (Brood 11) was a brood of periodical cicadas that appeared regularly in the eastern United States. It was one of the smallest 17-year broods, consisting exclusively of the species Magicicada septendecim , and was historically restricted to areas of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island which appeared to be at the northern limit of the species' range. [1] [2] Brood XI has not been seen since its 1954 emergence and is now generally regarded as extinct.

Contents

Historical records

Brood XI cicadas had historically been reported from scattered areas of the north-eastern United States, with records found going back into the 18th century, such as at Sandwich, Massachusetts. E. C. Herrick saw them "swarming" in the woods of Tolland County in 1835. [3]

By the late 19th century records were already becoming scarce. Entomologist George Dimmock recorded the species in great numbers in Suffield, Connecticut, in 1869 and collected a specimen, but failed to find them in the same location when searching seventeen years later. [4] It was reported by Prof. A. S. Packard from three localities in Rhode Island in 1903, including at a site in the town of Coventry near the southwest end of the Tiogue Reservoir where they covered the scrub oak for an eighth of a mile, [5] but a search in 1920 drew a blank. [6] By the 1920s the lack of reports led some to suggest that the brood had become extinct. [4]

1937 emergence

To the great interest of entomologists, Brood XI was rediscovered on its 1937 emergence by Prof. Jerauld Manter of the University of Connecticut, who was informed on June 7, 1937, that periodical cicadas had been seen near the town of Willington, Connecticut. [7] On visiting he found what appeared to be a "thriving colony" in pastureland to the east of the town on a farm belonging to a Mr. John Blahusiak. [8] Manter noted references to cicadas being heard in the locality in 1903 and 1920, and observed the colony covering an area of about 10 acres, with "many thousands clinging to the trees". [8] However, he added that given the absence of other reports the colony was probably "the last remnant" of Brood XI.

1954 emergence

The final record of Brood XI cicadas was made, once again, by Manter, who revisited the site in 1954. Cicadas were observed from June 10, but it was noted that "at no time did their numbers approach those of 1937". [6] A visit later in the summer found no evidence of egg laying or consequent wilting of twigs, unlike in 1937, leading to the conclusion that the cicadas were approaching extinction. A search conducted in 1971 at the same site revealed no individuals, and no records of Brood XI have appeared since. [9] Habitat fragmentation and environmental pressures resulting from the area being at the edge of the species' range have been put forward as reasons for the brood's extinction. [2]

Recent history

In 1988, an amateur entomologist believed they had seen a swarm of Brood XI on the outskirts of Chaplin, Connecticut, near the Natchaug State Forest. However, this report was later proven to be inaccurate. While still commonly believed to be extinct, David Marshall of the University of Connecticut has stated that he "would not be surprised if there are small patches of [Brood XI] that have been missed since much of southern New England is not that densely inhabited". [10]

Related Research Articles

Cicada Superfamily of insects

The cicadas are a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera. They are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, along with smaller jumping bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers. The superfamily is divided into two families, the Tettigarctidae, with two species in Australia, and the Cicadidae, with more than 3,000 species described from around the world; many species remain undescribed.

Pehr Kalm Finnish scientist and priest (1716-1779)

Pehr Kalm, also known as Peter Kalm, was a Finnish explorer, botanist, naturalist, and agricultural economist. He was one of the most important apostles of Carl Linnaeus.

Brood X Brood of periodical cicadas that appear every 17 years throughout the eastern United States

Brood X, the Great Eastern Brood, is one of 15 broods of periodical cicadas that appear regularly throughout the eastern United States. The brood's first major emergence after 2021 is predicted to occur during 2038.

Periodical cicadas Genus of true bugs native to North America

Magicicada is the genus of the 13-year and 17-year periodical cicadas of eastern North America, consisting of seven species. Although they are sometimes called "locusts", this is a misnomer, as cicadas belong to the taxonomic order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha, while locusts are grasshoppers belonging to the order Orthoptera. Magicicada belongs to the cicada tribe Lamotialnini, a group of genera with representatives in Australia, Africa, and Asia, as well as the Americas.

Rocky Mountain locust Extinct species of grasshopper

The Rocky Mountain locust is an extinct species of grasshopper that ranged through the western half of the United States and some western portions of Canada with large numbers seen until the end of the 19th century. Sightings often placed their swarms in numbers far larger than any other locust species, with one famous sighting in 1875 estimated at 198,000 square miles (510,000 km2) in size, weighing 27.5 million tons and consisting of some 12.5 trillion insects, the greatest concentration of animals ever speculatively guessed, according to Guinness World Records.

Oophagy sometimes ovophagy, literally "egg eating", is the practice of embryos feeding on eggs produced by the ovary while still inside the mother's uterus. The word oophagy is formed from the classical Greek ᾠόν and classical Greek φᾱγεῖν. In contrast, adelphophagy is the cannibalism of a multi-celled embryo.

Brood XIII Periodical cicada brood

Brood XIII is one of 15 separate broods of periodical cicadas that appear regularly throughout the midwestern United States. Every 17 years, Brood XIII tunnels en masse to the surface of the ground, mates, lays eggs, and then dies off in several weeks.

Brood XIX Periodical cicada brood

Brood XIX is the largest brood of 13-year periodical cicadas, last seen in 2011 across a wide stretch of the southeastern United States. Periodical cicadas are often referred to as "17-year locusts" because most of the known distinct broods have a 17-year life cycle. Brood XIX is one of only three surviving broods with a 13-year cycle. It is also notable because it includes four different 13-year species, one of which was discovered in Brood XIX in 1998 by scientists listening to cicada songs.

Magicicada cassinii 17-year periodic cicada

Magicicada cassini known as the 17-year cicada, Cassin's periodical cicada or the dwarf periodical cicada, is a species of periodical cicada. It is endemic to North America. It has a 17-year life cycle but is otherwise indistinguishable from the 13-year periodical cicada Magicicada tredecassini. The two species are usually discussed together as "cassini periodical cicadas" or "cassini-type periodical cicadas." Unlike other periodical cicadas, cassini-type males may synchronize their courting behavior so that tens of thousands of males sing and fly in unison. The species was first described by Margaretta Morris. However, the specific name cassini was in honour of John Cassin, an American ornithologist.

<i>Magicicada septendecim</i> Species of periodical cicada

Magicicada septendecim, sometimes called the Pharaoh cicada or the 17-year locust, is native to Canada and the United States and is the largest and most northern species of periodical cicada with a 17-year lifecycle.

<i>Massospora cicadina</i> Species of fungus that infects periodical cicadas

Massospora cicadina is a fungal pathogen that infects only 13 and 17 year periodical cicadas. Infection results in a "plug" of spores that replaces the end of the cicada's abdomen while it is still alive, leading to infertility, disease transmission, and eventual death of the cicada.

<i>Aleeta curvicosta</i> Species of insect

Aleeta curvicosta is a species of cicada, one of Australia's most familiar insects. Native to the continent's eastern coastline, it was described in 1834 by Ernst Friedrich Germar. The floury baker is the only described species in the genus Aleeta.

<i>Psaltoda plaga</i> Species of true bug

Psaltoda plaga is a species of cicada native to eastern Australia, from Maryborough in central Queensland to Bega in southern New South Wales. Adult cicadas appear over the summer and inhabit forested areas near bodies of water. The predominantly black form from the Sydney and Central Coast regions is commonly known as the black prince, while the term silver knight is used for the species as a whole.

Magicicada neotredecim is the most recently discovered species of periodical cicada. Like all Magicicada species, M. neotredecim has reddish eyes and wing veins and a black dorsal thorax. It has a 13-year life cycle but seems to be most closely related to the 17-year species Magicicada septendecim. Both species are distinguished by broad orange stripes on the abdomen and a unique high-pitched song said to resemble someone calling "weeeee-whoa" or "Pharaoh." They differ only in life cycle length.

Decim periodical cicadas

Decim periodical cicadas is a term used to group three closely related species of periodical cicadas: Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada tredecim, and Magicicada neotredecim. M. septendecim, first described by Carl Linnaeus, has a 17-year life cycle; the name septendecim is Latin for 17. M. tredecim, first described in 1868, has a similar call and appearance but a 13-year life cycle; tredecim is Latin for 13. M. neotredecim, first described in 2000 by Marshall and Cooley in an article in the journal Evolution, is a 13-year species but otherwise much more similar to M. septendecim than to M. tredecim as shown by studies of DNA and abdominal color variation by Chris Simon and colleagues in a companion article in the same journal issue.

Brood II Periodical cicada brood

Brood II is one of 15 separate broods of Magicicada that appear regularly throughout the northeastern United States. Every 17 years, Brood II tunnels en masse to the surface of the ground, mates, lays eggs, and then dies off over the span of several weeks.

Brood XXII is a brood of 13-year periodical cicadas, last seen in 2014 in a geographic region centered on Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as other locations in southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Periodical cicadas are often referred to as "17-year locusts" because most of the known distinct broods have a 17-year life cycle. Brood XXII is one of only three surviving broods with a 13-year cycle. The next emergence of The Baton Rouge Brood is expected in 2027.

<i>Ropalidia romandi</i> Species of wasp

Ropalidia romandi, also known as the yellow brown paper wasp or the yellow paper wasp. is a species of paper wasp found in Northern and Eastern Australia. R. romandi is a swarm-founding wasp, and manages perennial nests. Its nests are known as 'paper bag nests' and have different architectural structures, depending on the substrates from which they are built. The specific name honors Gustave, baron de Romand, a prominent French political figure and amateur entomologist.

References

  1. ↑ Cooley, J. et al "At the limits: habitat suitability modelling of northern 17-year periodical cicada extinctions", Global Ecology and Biogeography 22 (2013), 410-421, 419
  2. 1 2 Cooley et al 2013, 411
  3. ↑ Herrick, "Uprising of the Seventeen-year Cicada", American Journal of Science, 33, 434
  4. 1 2 Dow, "Is Brood XI Extinct?", Bulletin of the New England Museum of Natural History, 1929, 28
  5. ↑ Packard, A. S. "Appearance of the 17-year cicada in Rhode Island in 1903", Psyche, 10 (1903), 219
  6. 1 2 Manter, J. A. "Magicicada septendecim Linn. Brood XI in Connecticut", Psyche 62 (1955), 157-158
  7. ↑ The site was east of present-day Cowles Road, near the Willington town line (Cooley, 411)
  8. 1 2 Manter, J. A. "The periodical cicada in Connecticut in 1937" in Britton (ed). Connecticut State Entomologist, Thirty-Seventh Report, 1938, 249
  9. ↑ Manter, J. A. "Brood XI of the periodical cicada seems doomed" in Beard (ed) 25th Anniversary Memoirs of the Connecticut Entomological Society, (1974), 99-100
  10. ↑ "Brood XI: Alive?". 31 May 2005.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.