Trillions of cicadas are set to emerge in the United States for the first time in 17 years, marking the first double emergence in 200 years. This natural phenomenon will see the insects emerge in 15 states, creating a buzzing chorus that is both a spectacle and a nuisance for residents.
Trillions of cicadas from Brood XIX and Brood XIII are set to emerge in the U.S., with some areas expecting up to a million cicadas per acre. Brood XIX, the largest periodical cicada group, will emerge across several states in mid-May, followed by Brood XIII in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and potentially Michigan. The cicadas are harmless to humans and pets, but their emergence is expected to be a spectacle not seen in centuries.
Trillions of periodical cicadas are set to emerge in the U.S. this spring, with both 13-year and 17-year cicadas expected to arrive in mid-May, primarily in parts of Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. This will be the first time since 1803 that two broods have emerged simultaneously, and the next occurrence is predicted for 2037. The emergence, dubbed "cicada-geddon," is expected to bring hundreds of trillions, or even quadrillions, of cicadas, some of which may be affected by a fungal pathogen, turning them into "zombie cicadas." Maps from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show the emergence of both broods from 2013 to 2029.