In a spring marked by the emergence of trillions of red-eyed cicadas across the eastern U.S., a rare phenomenon has caught the attention of entomologists and nature enthusiasts alike: sightings of blue-eyed variants hidden among the masses.
Among the sea of red-eyed cicadas, a “one in a million” blue-eyed specimen was discovered earlier this month by 4-year-old Jack Bailey in his family’s yard in Wheaton, Illinois. Experts at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago confirmed the finding, identifying the cicada as a female member of Brood XIII, specifically belonging to the species Magicicada cassini. Brood XIII, composed of three species, emerges every 17 years for mating. This year, the emergence of Brood XIII coincides with that of Brood XIX for the first time since 1803, adding to the intrigue.
Jack and his mother, Greta Bailey, generously donated the blue-eyed cicada to the Field Museum for further study. Scientists there aim to sequence its DNA to unravel the genetic underpinnings of its unique eye color, likely the result of a rare mutation.
Jim Louderman, a collections assistant at the Field Museum, expressed astonishment at the discovery, noting the rarity of such occurrences. He emphasized that blue-eyed cicadas are infertile and incapable of producing offspring, which contributes to their scarcity.
Another blue-eyed cicada was sighted in the Orland Grassland forest preserve southwest of Chicago, further highlighting the extraordinary nature of these finds. Gene Kritsky, a biology professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio, described blue-eyed cicadas as exceptionally rare, with only a handful of sightings reported among tens of thousands of observations. Previous emergences have yielded similarly scarce reports, underscoring the rarity of these unique insects.
The surge in cicada sightings in the Chicago area coincided with a rise in temperatures, triggering the emergence of these fascinating creatures from their subterranean hideaways. Martha Weiss, a biology professor at Georgetown University, explained that cicadas typically emerge when soil temperatures a few inches below the surface reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).
As researchers delve deeper into the mysteries of these elusive blue-eyed cicadas, their fleeting appearances serve as a reminder of the marvels and complexities of the natural world.