This spring, Americans across the Midwest and Southeast will witness a rare natural concert as two large broods of cicadas emerge from their underground hideouts to partake in a cacophonous mating ritual. This unique event, which has not occurred since the era of Thomas Jefferson, will see billions of these winged insects from two distinct life cycles — one spanning 13 years and the other 17 — synchronize their emergence in what experts are calling a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
With the first sightings expected in late April, the stage is set for Brood XIII and Brood XIX to unite in a narrow band across central Illinois, overlapping their territories in a historic occurrence that last transpired in 1803. “Thomas Jefferson was president the last time these two broods came out, so is it rare? Yes,” Gene Kritsky, a prominent entomologist at Mount St. Joseph University and author of “A Tale of Two Broods,” remarked, highlighting the extraordinary nature of the 2024 cicada event.
Cicadas spend the majority of their lifespan in the subterranean world, feeding on the sap from tree roots. When they finally emerge after 13 or 17 years, depending on their brood, they bring with them a sound that resonates through the environment, reaching decibel levels comparable to a motorcycle or jackhammer. This intense buzzing, a mating call that can rise to 100 decibels, announces the cicadas’ presence in a symphony that’s as fascinating as it is disruptive.
Brood XIII will principally emerge in the Midwest, spreading through Illinois and touching parts of Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa. Brood XIX, on the other hand, covers a broader geographic range from Missouri to Maryland, including parts of Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia. As these insects surface, they shed their nymph exoskeletons and undergo a transformation, maturing into the adult cicadas ready to engage in their short-lived mating dance.
This emergence is not merely a curiosity for the casual observer but also a critical period for scientific study. Researchers are eager to track the cicadas’ distribution to gain insights into how these insects are adapting and evolving. Moreover, with two broods emerging in unison, scientists are curious about the potential for cross-breeding between them, an event that could offer new data on cicada genetics and behavior.
The Cicada Safari app, introduced by Kritsky in 2019, allows citizens to join the scientific community by documenting cicada sightings. This crowd-sourced data collection effort will help map the insects’ range during this unique emergence. “I know there will be a lot of us in that boundary zone in Illinois, driving back and forth, meeting for coffee and having pie,” Kritsky shared, emphasizing the communal and social aspect of this natural event.
Relevant articles:
– Billions of cicadas will buzz this spring as two broods emerge at the same time
– Billions of cicadas will emerge in the U.S. this year in a rare double-brood event, NBC News, Sat, 20 Jan 2024 14:00:40 GMT
– Billions of cicadas will emerge in the US this year in a rare double-brood event, NBC 10 Philadelphia, Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:41:02 GMT
– At least 27 people were killed in an attack on Donetsk in Russian-occupied Ukraine, HPPR, Sun, 21 Jan 2024 20:29:19 GMT