Cicada Watch: Mecklenburg County Brood XIX Magicicada Monitoring Project

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

As one of the fastest growing areas of the country, the Greater Charlotte, NC region has experienced a rapid increase in urbanization and suburban sprawl since the last emergence of the Cicada insect Brood XIX in 1998. While it is unknown how these changes have affected local periodical cicada populations, the data generated through the Cicada Watch project may help Mecklenburg County Natural Resources staff understand how development and land use practices have affected the region’s natural environment. The Cicada Watch monitoring project was developed and coordinated through Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation’s Division of Nature Preserves and Natural Resources. The project used over 150 local residents to help document the emergence of periodical cicadas of Brood XIX in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas in 2011. The project relied heavily on local community involvement to generate data on periodical cicada locations. Many of the parents, teachers scout leaders and other local residents that were part of this project welcomed this opportunity to not only take part in a unique citizen science effort, but also to develop an awareness and appreciation for these insects and to pass that along to others. As a result of the program, the parks system in Mecklenburg County is now able to use the generated data as a baseline for future cicada studies and help determine some ecological information from cicada populations.