An unprecedented entomological event is unfolding in the Midwest and Southeast of the United States, as two broods of cicadas have simultaneously emerged for the first time in 221 years. This extraordinary occurrence, dubbed ‘cicada-geddon,’ has resulted in a staggering number of these insects rising from the ground, estimated to be in the billions or even trillions.
Comprising Brood XIII and Brood XIX, these cicadas follow 17- and 13-year cycles, respectively, making their co-emergence an extremely rare phenomenon. Dr. Gene Kritsky, founder of the Cicada Safari and a professor at the University of Connecticut, explains that such an alignment occurs only once every 221 years due to the prime nature of the cycles.
Beginning in April, the first cicadas of this dual emergence appeared, and the event is now in full swing. These juvenile insects, known as nymphs, hatch from the ground and undergo a remarkable transformation into adults, shedding their exoskeletons and ascending into trees to mate. Male cicadas produce a distinctive shrieking sound to attract females, who respond with a clicking call. After mating, the females lay their eggs, marking the completion of their life cycle.