top of page

Why Do Cicadas Live Underground for So Long? | Tumble Episode

  • Writer: tumblepodcast
    tumblepodcast
  • Apr 26, 2024
  • 1 min read

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Episode art for "Why Do Cicadas Live Underground?" Pictured is a cicada in front of a green background.

You may have heard their song, but have you heard their story? In our latest episode, cicada scientist Chris Simon helps us dig into the surprising science of cicadas - and figure out how they’re changing!


Learn more about cicada history in our in our bonus interview extra on Patreon!


🎧 Listen to the Episode


Chris Simon in her office with insect and biology artifacts.

🔎About The Featured Expert

Chris Simon is a senior research scientist at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Among many other things, Chris and her lab research systematics, biogeography, and the evolution of cicadas.


An Emergence for the Ages

Here's an interview with Chris where she discusses the 2024 periodical cicada emergence:


To learn more about this emergence, check out UConn's resource page. They also have information on how climate change impacts periodical cicadas. On their main resource page, there's a super neat map that displays where broods will emerge!

Map that shows where cicadas will emerge.

Don't forget to check out Cicada Safari! If you live in the area covered by this year's emergence, you can download the app and submit your own observations of when and where you find periodical cicadas. This will help scientists learn more about periodical cicadas.

Cicada Safari logo.

Here are the download links for the App Store and for Google Play.


🫶Support Tumble!

Click here to become a Patron! Ad-free early access to episodes is just $1/month, and for just $5/month, get a birthday shout out on our feed!


Click here to visit the Tumble Merch Store! T-shirts and other merch (including merch specific to this episode) are available for purchase.

bottom of page