Trillions of cicadas are set to emerge across the United States this spring, heralding their arrival with their distinctive buzzing and discarded exoskeletons, CBS News reported.
The emergence of these insects is a cyclical event tied to specific geographic regions, and this year's spectacle promises to be one for the ages.
The cicadas belong to two distinct groups, each with its own periodic emergence cycle: one group emerges every 13 years, while the other appears every 17 years. Spending most of their lives underground, these creatures surface when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit, typically around mid-May.
In a rare convergence, both the 13-year and 17-year cicadas will emerge simultaneously this year, a phenomenon not witnessed for generations. After mating, molting, and fulfilling their reproductive cycle, these insects will perish, leaving behind a new generation to repeat the cycle.
The 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will make their appearance in Georgia and the Southeast, while the 17-year cicadas, referred to as Brood XIII, will emerge in Illinois. This simultaneous emergence of two broods last occurred in 1803 and is not expected again until 2037.
Dubbed "cicada-geddon" by experts, this event is only a precursor to an even larger spectacle predicted for 2076 when the two largest broods, XIX and XIV, are forecast to emerge together, termed "cicada-palooza" by University of Connecticut associate professor and cicada specialist John Cooley.
Although the emergence is anticipated to proceed without conflict, concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of a fungal pathogen called Massospora cicadina on some cicadas. This infection, which can render cicadas hyper-sexual and transform them into so-called "zombie cicadas," remains a subject of study regarding its effects on wildlife and humans.
"The cicada continues to participate in normal activities, like it would if it was healthy," explained Matthew Kasson, an associate professor specializing in Mycology and Forest Pathology at West Virginia University. "Like it tries to mate, it flies around, it walks on plants. Yet, a third of its body has been replaced by fungus. That's really kind of bizarre."
The emergence of these cicada broods will predominantly occur in parts of Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Mapping data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture outlines the emergence patterns of both the 13- and 17-year cicada broods from 2013 to 2029.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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