ORLANDO, Fla. – The buzzing is back in parts of the Midwest and southern United States.
It’s a cicada brood reunion as Brood XIII and Brood XIX emerge from their underground hideouts. While these particular noise-makers won’t be making their way to Central Florida, the scene is reminiscent of the massive cicada emergence witnessed during Brood X’s appearance in 2021, where these winged insects blanketed Washington, D.C., and its neighboring areas, only to disappear until 2038.
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But hold onto your hats, because this year brings a rare treat: the simultaneous emergence of two neighboring cicada broods, a phenomenon that occurs once every 221 years. Broods XIX — also known as the Great Southern Brood — and XIII, the Northern Illinois Brood, are joining forces for the first time since 1803, making this event truly once-in-a-lifetime.
What makes this convergence so special? Well, it’s all in the timing.
The Illinois Brood operates on a 17-year cycle, while the Great Southern Brood follows a 13-year rhythm. These cycles set them apart from the annual cicadas that serenade us each year, marking the arrival of warmer seasons with their unmistakable loud buzzing sound.
Ever wondered how cicadas (no matter the brood) make so much noise?
It’s all thanks to their tymbals — the thin, ridged areas on their exoskeletons located on either side of their thoraxes. By vibrating these tymbals at high speeds using muscles in their bodies, cicadas produce a distinctive sound, sending out around 300 to 400 waves per second.
According to Dr. Keith Philips, a biology professor at Western Kentucky University, cicadas are like sunshine-loving Floridians, thriving in the warmth of spring and summer.
“Their volume is heavily influenced by temperature, with cicadas singing louder and longer on hot, sunny days compared to rainy ones. They’re no strangers to seeking shelter during downpours, much like birds do,” said Philips.
But don’t underestimate the impact of two broods emerging simultaneously. In 1956, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reported an average of 311 nymphal cicada emergence holes per square yard of ground in a forested floodplain near Chicago. That translates to roughly 1.5 million cicadas per acre — and that was just from the Northern Illinois Brood. With both broods emerging together, we’re in for a massive spectacle.
Despite their short lifespan of about a month, cicadas can leave a lasting impression. While they don’t venture far from their emergence point due to limited flying abilities, their sheer numbers can result in quite the odor as they accumulate on the ground and sidewalks. And while it may not be the most pleasant scent, it’s crucial not to harm these insects, as they play a vital role in the ecosystem.
Cicadas serve as a valuable food source for birds and other predators, while the holes they create in lawns help aerate the soil and improve water filtration. As they decompose, they enrich the soil with nutrients, acting as nature’s fertilizer. Plus, the holes they leave behind aid in rainwater absorption, nourishing tree roots during sweltering summer months.
Believe it or not, some people even eat cicadas. Some say they taste much like soft crustaceans. It’s all part of the fascinating world of these buzzing bugs.
So, whether you’re intrigued by their culinary potential, curious about their impact on the environment, or simply marveling at their remarkable life cycle, the cicada invasion promises to be an unforgettable experience.