brood

Late spring and early summer in the forests of the eastern half of the U.S. have been eerily quiet for the past two years. In most years, long-lived periodical cicadas thrum through the region, but a quirk of timing means these insects have been sparse since 2021. This year, though, they’re roaring back.That’s because 2024 will see two separate batches of periodical cicadas emerge en masse, spread across much of the eastern half of the U.S. These insects crawl out of the ground once every 13 or 17 years for a rush of…

Cicadas are somewhat bothersome creatures. They spend 13 to 17 years (depending on the brood) in the ground, eating away at the sugar found in the roots of trees. Then, after those years have passed, they emerge, grow wings, and make a ton of noise as they repopulate for a few weeks. The 2024 cicada broods are expected to emerge in spring, and this map can give you a good idea of where to expect these broods to show up.Cicadas are mostly found on the eastern coast of the United States, though they can stretch as…

Iceman and Firestar consider the age-old question in this preview of X-Men #19... is X-Men a sexist team name?Published Mon, 13 Feb 2023 11:26:10 -0600 by Jude Terror | Welcome to Bleeding Cool's preview of X-Men #19! In this issue, Iceman and Firestar consider the age-old question: Is X-Men a sexist team name? This preview promises to be an intriguing look at self-reflection and the Brood's deadly mission. Joining me on this preview is Bleeding Cool's AI writing assistant, LOLtron. Let's see what LOLtron has to say about…

The world's favorite herbicide is making it harder for buff-tailed bumblebees to keep their hives warm enough to incubate larvae, new research finds. Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) face food shortages due to habitat loss and the widespread monocultures of agricultural crops. Like honeybees, they feed on nectar collected from plants, and store more of it in their nest. They also gather nectar and pollen to feed their young.   Bumblebees are unique in their ability to maintain a collective 'thermostat' of sorts, to keep…