Latest news with #MountSt.JosephUniversity
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amusement park guests told to keep mouths shut on rides due to cicada swarms
Cicada Brood 14 has emerged in parts of the eastern U.S., and they're causing quite a stir. Visitors to Kings Island Amusement and Waterpark in Mason, Ohio, were recently advised to keep their mouths closed on rides to prevent a close encounter with a flying cicada. A series of viral videos shows guests swatting and running away from cicadas at Kings Island. Their loud chirps dominate the scene. "They literally land on you and fly into your face!" TikTok user Kyla Renee Carter said in a video upload caption. Local media reports the cicadas are "covering" every tree in the area, and their noises are drowning out the sounds of the rides. TikTok user Brittanyhunter273 said cicada activity seems to die down at the park after 5 p.m., making evenings the best time to visit. periodical cicadas are here. welcome brood xiv — emmrich volkarin's wife guy (@feedorahe) June 11, 2025 Dr. Gene Kritsky from Mount St. Joseph University told WCPO Brood 14 has "history" in the region, having first been spotted by the pilgrims in 1634. A cicada brood represents a group of periodical cicadas that emerge en masse in a certain area after spending the first 13 or 17 years underground. This particular brood has a 17-year life cycle. An emergence typically lasts between 4 and 6 weeks. During that time, cicadas shed their exoskeleton, mate, lay eggs, and then die. The cycle then repeats. The last time Brood 14 emerged was in 2008. We'll see them again in 2042. Header image: Created by Cheryl Santa Maria for The Weather Network using elements from Canva Pro.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Look: Cicadas swarm Kings Island visitors in viral TikTok videos
Greater Cincinnati residents began feeling the emergence of cicadas when Brood XIV (as in 14) started appearing in the area around early May. Now, the presence of those insects is maybe being felt a little too much. The loud-screaming, pesky bugs (which are emerging in numbers around the lower billions in 13 states, including Ohio) have infiltrated one of the area's summer hotspots: Kings Island. And thrill-seekers aren't sure how to deal with them. Some Kings Island visitors expressed their dismay at the cicadas on TikTok. In every video, you can hear the bugs' piercing screams as they swarm and latch onto parkgoers' clothing (don't worry, they don't bite). Below are just some of our favorite Kings Island cicada videos. Enjoy! The Enquirer reached out to Kings Island regarding the insect infiltration and is awaiting a response. Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, said cicadas are still approaching their peak in many areas. Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, an app that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, attributed it to the cooler, rainy days in May. "People should notice the loud singing declining over the next two weeks, and the singing should be over in early July," he said in an email June 10. Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, according to ODNR. They emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs. This 2025 brood was set to emerge in greater numbers along the I-71 corridor and eastward, Kritsky previously told The Enquirer. Scattered light emergences are also likely be seen in parts of western Cincinnati. However, the area will not see the numbers experienced in 2021. Here are the counties likely to be hit the hardest: Adams. Brown. Parts of Butler. Clermont. Most of Clinton. Most of Gallia. Parts of Hamilton. Highland. Parts of Ross. Most of Warren. Ohio Connect Team reporter Chad Murphy contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Look: Cicadas are swarming Kings Island visitors in Cincinnati
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ohio cicada map 2025: When will cicadas go away? How deep do they burrow?
Is the cicada season over yet in Ohio? If you're reading this in Greater Cincinnati, you've probably seen the cicadas swarming around the city. After these adult cicadas mate, they will lay eggs, and their cicada babies (known as nymphs) will hatch after a few weeks. How far into the ground will the nymphs burrow when they hatch from their eggs? Here's a little biology lesson. After six to ten weeks, cicada nymphs will hatch. They appear white and ant-like when they hatch, according to the Ohio State University Extension. Once they hatch, they drop to the trees and immediately burrow around 6–18 inches below the ground. The nymphs then spend the next 13 or 17 years below ground before emerging to continue the life cycle. Millions, if not billions, of cicadas (whether you like them or not) have emerged in Cincinnati, Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana. This brood of cicadas is XIV (14), the latest brood of 17-year cicadas to emerge in the United States. The duration of the cicadas' presence depends on the brood and whether they are annual or periodical species. Once periodical cicadas have mated and the females have laid their eggs, the insects will die after about three to six weeks above ground. That means many of this year's periodical cicadas could go away in mid-June, according to The Nature Conservancy. However, Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, said that Cincinnati's cicadas are still approaching their peak in many areas. Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, an app that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, attributed their continued presence this late into June to the cooler, rainy days in May. The eggs will hatch in early August and nymphs will burrow into the soil, while the dead adult cicadas will fall back to the ground, helping to fertilize the soil while leaving a stinky, terrible mess. This 2025 brood has emerged in great numbers along the I-71 corridor near Cincinnati, per The Enquirer. All or part of several other counties in Southern and Southwest Ohio are experiencing cicadas this year. Here are the counties that are getting hit the hardest: Adams Brown Parts of Butler Clermont Most of Clinton Most of Gallia Parts of Hamilton Highland Parts of Ross Most of Warren In two years, a 13-year brood is expected to emerge in Brown and Clermont counties southeast of Cincinnati, as well as 10 other counties in Northern Kentucky. Ohio will then see cicadas again in 2033, 2036 and 2038, according to Cicada Mania. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cicada map 2025: See where they are in Ohio, how deep they burrow
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Cicada the apparent cause for car crash in Blue Ash, and it 'fled the scene'
Cicadas are proving to be a bigger terror (aside from their ear-piercing screams and chaotic flying patterns), as one of the red-eyed creatures is the apparent reason behind a car crash in Blue Ash Thursday. According to a crash report, a cicada flew into the driver's window, startling the driver. While trying to remove the pesky critter, the driver lost control of his vehicle and veered off the right side of the road before hitting a pole. "We're all well aware that these pesky cicadas don't respect personal space, including while driving. It may be a good idea to keep the windows up for the next several weeks. As you can see, a cicada attack can be dangerous," the Blue Ash Police Department posted on Facebook. Police said no one was injured in the crash and joked that "the suspect fled the scene." The cicada invasion, which occurs every 17 years, has already wreaked havoc on the Cincinnati area, as the loud-screeching bugs have infiltrated neighborhoods, parks, and even Kings Island. Gene Kritsky, professor emeritus of biology with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, said cicadas are still approaching their peak in many areas. Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, an app that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, attributed it to the cooler, rainy days in May. "People should notice the loud singing declining over the next two weeks, and the singing should be over in early July," he said in an email June 10. Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, according to ODNR. They emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs. This 2025 brood was set to emerge in greater numbers along the Interstate 71 corridor and eastward, Kritsky previously told The Enquirer. Scattered light emergences are also likely be seen in parts of western Cincinnati. However, the area will not see the numbers experienced in 2021. Here are the counties likely to be hit the hardest: Adams. Brown. Parts of Butler. Clermont. Most of Clinton. Most of Gallia. Parts of Hamilton. Highland. Parts of Ross. Most of Warren. Ohio Connect Team reporter Chad Murphy contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cicada flies into car window, causing crash in Ohio, police say
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Keep your mouth closed;' Kings Island visitors joined by thousands of cicadas
Cicadas from Brood 14 have made their way to one of the area's favorite summer spots. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'This brood, Brood 14, was first seen by the pilgrims in 1634. There's a little bit of American history involved with this particular brood,' Dr. Gene Kritsky from Mount St. Joseph University told our news partners at WCPO. Over the weekend, several people shared their experiences on TikTok of cicadas joining them at Kings Island, including Butler County mom Hope Daniels. Daniels shared the moment where her young son Oliver realized a cicada had decided to land on his shirt as they entered the park. Daniels shared the moment where her young son Oliver realized a cicada had decided to land on his shirt as they entered the park. TRENDING STORIES: Air India flight crashes moments after takeoff, more than 240 on board Missing 24-year-old woman found 'safe,' police say Officers arrest armed scooter rider, recover suspect meth during traffic stop 'He loves all things bugs and earth, but when it comes to the cicadas, I don't know if it's the legs or the noises that they make; it creeps him out,' Daniels said. Daniels was one of many people sharing their cicada-filled trip to the amusement park over the weekend. 'I think we are starting to embrace and make them our friends. We're taking them with us on the roller coasters, we are loving on them, so I'm hoping that it's moving more from fear to embracing and loving the cicadas,' Daniels said. Kritsky said that if you're enjoying your day at Kings Island over the coming weeks, he does have one important piece of advice. 'Just enjoy the cicadas and when you're on the ride, keep your mouth closed,' Kritsky said. Daniels said her 6-year-old already knew that advice and made sure everyone else with him was prepared. 'So, while boarding our first roller coaster of the night, he reminded our group that we all needed to keep our mouths tightly sealed so we did not get a cicada in the mouth. And he was very proud at the end when we told me that he had not screamed the entire roller coaster,' Daniels said. You can learn more about cicadas and their cycles by going to the Cicada Safari website. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
