Brood X Has Entered the Chat

It’s that time of the year (OK, it’s that time of the every 17 years): the cicadas are back! And they’re here to stay (for the next few weeks anyway). Curious to learn more about these just-a-few-times-in-a-lifetime insects? Take a look at some of the resources below.

Oh! And a shout out to the Howard County Public Library for sharing these resources in their weekly newsletter, HiLights, from May 24, 2021. You can subscribe to the HCLS eNews on their website. And remember, all HCPSS students have access to all of the library resources with their A+ student library card, available by clicking on the HC Library button on hcpss.me:

Now, on to the cicadas!

CicadaSafari.org has some really interesting information about these periodic visitors. For instance, did you know that only the male cicadas sing? Or that adult cicadas don’t eat solid food, but do drink fluids to avoid getting dehydrated? This website also has some fun activities for you to try at home, like folding an origami cicada! Plus, they have an app to help you find cicadas in your area (though at this point you may not need an app). And lots of other resources too.

The Howard County Conservancy has created a Cicada Scavenger Hunt.

Finally, if you’re looking for more information about cicadas, try searching in one of our databases in MackinVia, available to all students and staff via hcpss.me. A good database to start with might be Gale’s Science in Context. And here’s one article (again, thanks HCLS!!) about the brood of cicadas visiting us this year:

“Like Clockwork: Ready or Not, the Brood X Cicadas are Coming – Maybe to a Park Near You”

And because our brains work this way, here are a few awesome books that popped to mind as we were discussing Brood X and all its glory:

Brooding YA Hero by Carrie Anne DiRisio

and

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

and of course, the unique tale that just might warm your heart to these little creatures:

Cicada by Shaun Tan