Cicadas' Droning Din Detected by Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber optic cables equipped with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology have inadvertently picked up the loud sounds of cicadas, offering entomologists a new way to remotely monitor insect populations. DAS, which can track seismic activity, uses fiber optic cables to analyze light disturbances caused by vibrations. The researchers in Princeton noticed a distinct buzzing frequency in the DAS data, which they suspected was the sound of the emerging Brood X cicadas. By monitoring the volume of cicada noise, entomologists can estimate population sizes and study the effects of temperature on their mating behavior. This technology could complement other monitoring techniques and provide valuable data on insect populations, especially in remote areas.