After a long period of drought, the rain has arrived at the end of September. As in all years, a strong period of heat precedes the first rains and should continue for a few more days. In fact, the DF is experiencing a strong heat wave. The forecast of more constant rains is expected for after October 10th. And cicadas start to appear in the city, fulfilling the tradition that they announce the end of the drought and the beginning of spring.
For those who don’t know them, cicadas are harmless insects. They are born from the earth and as soon as they climb the tree trunks, they undergo a metamorphosis. They leave their bark on the trunks and fly through the trees. They make a noise – in a chorus of dozens of cicadas – that sometimes even resembles a car alarm.
It is a noise that can be heard from afar, some call it noise, others call it music. When it starts, the sound becomes continuous; in some moments it is possible to hear more than one melody at the same time. For some people, they are an annoyance, for others, the noises they make are part of the city, they are part of the affective memory of Brasilia. It is in this way that cicadas announce their presence in the thickets of the Distrito Federal. And when they don’t show up, there are those who miss their songs.
As October rolls through Brasilia, the arrival of the cicadas announces the coming of spring and most importantly, the coming of rain to mark the end of the dry season on the DF.
According to specialists, mating of cicadas increases at the time of spring, and that is one of the reasons for their noises. Males emit a loud and repetitive sound to conquer females. After copulation, females lay eggs on tree branches. And after reproduction, cicadas have another month or two to live.
Another reason for cicadas to sing is when they are in danger, with the goal of scaring off predators. Contrary to what many people think, cicadas also appear during other seasons, but it is at this time of the year that most species are prepared for mating.
After the eggs hatch, young cicadas are called nymphs, they feed on plant sap, they are the ones that make the cycle start over. Cicadas spend most of their lives underground: researchers estimate that they stay underground for 4 to 7 years. They only come out of there to the tree trunks when their development is complete.
They are a staple of the “Brasilia experience” and are associated with many nostalgic memories for long-time residents of the Distrito Federal.
With the arrival of constant rains, the city will once again become beautiful with its green lawns and trees with lime green leaves. The flowers will be born and the skies will be drawn with great rain clouds and colorful sunsets. Without a doubt, spring is a beautiful season to be experienced in the city. And cicadas will soon appear to announce their arrival to everyone.
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Dr. TAMARA PASSOS
(CRM-DF 20.174)
Phone and WhatsApp: (61) 99832-4782
Portuguese:
Após um longo período de estiagem, as chuvas chegaram no final do mês de setembro. Como em todos os anos. Um forte calor antecede as primeiras chuvas e deverá continuar ainda por mais uns dias. De fato, o DF está passando por uma forte onda de calor. A previsão de chuvas mais constantes é após o dia 10 de outubro. E as cigarras começam a aparecer pela cidade, cumprindo a tradição de que elas anunciam o fim da estiagem e o início da primavera.
Enquanto o mês de outubro passa por Brasília, a chegada das cigarras anuncia a chegada da primavera e, o mais importante, a chegada das chuvas para marcar o fim da seca no DF.
Segundo especialistas, o acasalamento das cigarras aumenta na época da primavera, e esse é um dos motivos de seus ruídos. Os machos emitem um som alto e repetitivo para conquistar as fêmeas. Após a cópula, as fêmeas colocam ovos nos galhos das árvores. E após a reprodução, as cigarras têm mais um ou dois meses de vida.
Outro motivo para as cigarras cantarem é quando estão em perigo, com o objetivo de espantar predadores. Ao contrário do que muitos pensam, as cigarras também aparecem em outras estações, mas é nessa época que a maioria das espécies está preparada para o acasalamento.
Depois da eclosão dos ovos, as cigarras jovens são chamadas de ninfas, se alimentam da seiva das plantas, são elas que fazem o ciclo recomeçar. As cigarras passam a maior parte de suas vidas no subsolo: os pesquisadores estimam que elas permanecem no subsolo por 4 a 7 anos. Elas só saem de lá para os troncos das árvores quando seu desenvolvimento está completo.
Eles são um marco da “experiência de Brasília” e são associadas a muitas lembranças nostálgicas para os moradores de longa data do Distrito Federal.
Com a chegada das chuvas constantes, a cidade voltará a ficar bela com seus verdes gramados e árvores com folhas de colorido verde-limão. As flores nascerão e os céus serão desenhados com grandes nuvens de chuva e coloridos entardeceres. Sem dúvida, a primavera é uma bela estação a ser vivida na cidade. E as cigarras logo aparecerão para anunciar a todos sua chegada.
