How to Speak Cicada

#1

Post by redeemed » Mon, May 31, 2021, 8:52 PM UTC

How to Speak Cicada
insidescience.org

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#2

Post by exo-pla-net » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 6:37 AM UTC

Fun article, but to prevent disappointment, we've only learned four cicada phrases:

I want to mate.

No, you can't mate with me.

Sure, mate with me.

Stop touching me.

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#3

Post by qwertox » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 8:21 AM UTC

Found a good PBS video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_fy2vCcIiE

So they spend 17 years underground, then get out, mate, and then die after around 4 weeks.

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#4

Post by hnbad » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 8:43 AM UTC

exo-pla-net wrote: post #2

Fun article, but to prevent disappointment, we've only learned four cicada phrases: I want to mate. No, you can't mate with me. Sure, mate with me. Stop touching me.

Realistically, what more do you need?

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#5

Post by zhte415 » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 9:01 AM UTC

Interesting how they sound a little different around the world, and also have a different life/growing span. This is my local variety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5OGl9twsEE they come out during August (usually) and make much noise.

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#6

Post by keithnz » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 9:38 AM UTC

be great if we find the "shhhhh! everyone be quiet there are predators around, lets go somewhere else".

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#7

Post by nkrisc » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 11:35 AM UTC

hnbad wrote: post #4

exo-pla-net wrote: post #2

Fun article, but to prevent disappointment, we've only learned four cicada phrases: I want to mate. No, you can't mate with me. Sure, mate with me. Stop touching me.

Realistically, what more do you need?

Perfectly sufficient for this last stage of their life where they do two things: mate and die.

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#8

Post by dspillett » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 11:47 AM UTC

qwertox wrote: post #3

Found a good PBS video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_fy2vCcIiE So they spend 17 years underground, then get out, mate, and then die after around 4 weeks.

For some groups it is 13 years. It is thought that the co-prime-ness of 17 & 13 (all primes are co-prime, as are many combinations of non-primes, so these two numbers are not especially special in that sense) helps reduce competition for resources between those with the different periods. Nature doing its clever but simple solutions thing.

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#9

Post by tr14 » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 12:00 PM UTC

Oh, I was thinking you wanted to contact cicada 3301 somehow. Sorry, I don't speak to locusts.

Re: How to Speak Cicada

#10

Post by maybenotafart » Tue, Jun 01, 2021, 12:35 PM UTC

I tried to speak cicada but I ended up just annoying the shit out of everyone and then dying after 3 days.