Trillions of periodical cicadas from Brood XIX and Brood XIII are emerging in a rare, double-brood event this year in 17 states across the Southeast and Midwest. These 13- or 17-year cicadas have been waiting for the right soil conditions to come above ground to eat, mate, and die. They are being spotted in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The emergence of the two broods together has not happened since 1803 and won’t occur again until 2245.
The cicadas are known for their loud calls, which are produced by the male cicadas to establish territory and attract females. The periodical cicadas have a synchronized calling pattern and congregational songs. They are the loudest when they emerge in large numbers, creating a cacophony of noise. The cicadas will be active from May to late June as the soil reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit eight inches underground.
Cicada broods are classified as all periodical cicadas of the same life cycle type that emerge in a given year. They consist of different species of cicadas with separate evolutionary histories that join the brood due to being in the same region and emerging on a common schedule. The emergence of the two broods this year has sparked interest in tracking and observing these fascinating insects.
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