The animal that we’re talking about this week is one that you’ve probably heard before. They have one of the most interesting life cycles on the planet and can emerge in huge swarms. This week, Alex is joined by expert Gene Kritsky, Professor of Biology and Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University, to tell you all there is to know about these amazing creatures. So, you may want to invest in some earplugs because we’re going to learn all about cicadas.
“Part of their survival strategy is to literally overwhelm their predators to the point where they get tired of eating cicadas and there are still millions left.” -Dr. Gene Kritsky
About Our Guest: Dr. Gene Kritsky
Dr. Gene Kritsky is a Professor of Biology and Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University. He received his BA in Biology at Indiana University in 1974 and his MS and PhD in Entomology from the University of Illinois in 1976 and 1977 respectively. He was also a Fulbright Scholar to Egypt in 1981-1982. Dr. Kritsky is a native of North Dakota and has been teaching at the college level for over 40 years, lecturing on various subjects including entomology, evolution, zoology, general biology, paleobiology, and the history of science. He was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1996 and elected as a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America in 2019. His research has attracted national attention with appearances on the ABC Evening News, CBS Evening News, the Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, and CNN Science News. His work has also been featured in U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, Parade, People, Discover, Scientific American, The New York Times, Washington Post, Science News, and many international publications. Kritsky has published over 250 papers and 10 books. His 2010 book, The Quest for the Perfect Hive, was nominated for the Ohioana award for the best non-fiction book by an Ohio author in 2011, and his 2015 book, The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt, was a number 1 bestseller for both Egyptology and Beekeeping on Amazon.co.uk. His book, Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition, was published by the Ohio Biological Survey.
Organizations
Sources
- Cicadas, facts and photos
- 101 Animal Trivia Questions & Answers
- Periodical Cicadas
- Brood X Cicadas Are Emerging at Last
- What is Brood X, the U.S. cicada infestation coming in 2021?
- The Social Life of Periodical Cicadas
- Behavior Cicadas
- The Cicada in China – Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art
- 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Cicadas
- 14 Fun Facts About Cicadas
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