
‘As loud as a lawn mower’: What to expect from the historic cicada emergence
CNN
Naturalists have already spotted the first arrivals in a rare phenomenon during which cicadas will emerge across more than a dozen US states, including populous areas.
A spectacular wonder of nature or an anxiety-inducing nuisance? It depends on whom you ask. Naturalists have already spotted the first arrivals in a rare phenomenon during which cicadas will emerge this spring across more than a dozen US states — including populous areas like Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis — blanketing eastern parts of the country with billions, perhaps trillions, of the flying bugs. The insects will infiltrate a much bigger geographical area than similar occurrences in most years because they’re part of the dual emergence of two particular periodical cicada broods. These groups of multiple Magicicada species appear like clockwork after a certain number of years, but the simultaneous appearance of these two broods hasn’t happened since 1803. The Northern Illinois brood spends 17 years underground before emerging and is known as Brood XIII, while the Great Southern Brood, or Brood XIX, lives underground for 13 years. The two broods won’t coincide again until 2245. Although the full-scale emergence isn’t underway yet, experts have some guidance on how to prepare for cicada season. When small holes that can resemble tiny chimneys appear in the ground near tree roots, it’s a signal periodical cicadas will soon emerge from their underground lair.

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