In May, periodical cicadas with 17 years life cycle emerged on the East Coast of the USA after underground development as juveniles since 1996. Researchers and scientists worked to map and study the rare wave, and the locals prepared for the noisy event. First recorded in 1666, the Magicicada septendecim species recently emerged in 1979, 1996, this year, with a next wave due in 2030.
This week, Wikinews interviewed Chris Simon, an ecology and evolutionary biologist at University of Connecticut, about the cicadas.
((Wikinews))  What caused your initial interest in periodical cicadas?
((WN))  You study the emergence of the periodical cicadas. What do you study? What observations are you making?
((WN))  What equipment do you use?
((WN))  Do you study the periodical cicadas with anyone else? What is their role?
((WN))  You studied the periodical cicadas in 1979 and 1996 too. What changes with time?
((WN))  What are your thoughts on the long life span of the periodical cicadas? Why could it be so? What advantages and what disadvantages does it have?
((WN))  News reports mention this is 'Brood II' of the periodical cicadas. What are the distinctive features of this specific species and what is its full scientific name?
((WN))  At what depth do the cicadas juveniles live underground?
((WN))  How do people prepare for the cicada emergence?
((WN))  Do cicadas affect transport in the local area?
((WN))  Do cicadas usually stay outside or do they also invade houses too?
((WN))  What do the cicadas eat?
((WN))  Do cicadas damage crops or city vegetation? What damage?
((WN))  Thank you.

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Wikinews interviews biologist Chris Simon about periodical cicadas