A Trillion Cicadas May Soon Be Emerging and Bring The Buzz
New Jersey survived an earthquake and an eclipse. But now we have cicadas? What is happening!?
According to CBS News, up to a trillion cicadas are about to emerge across the U.S. this spring. Trillions of periodical cicadas are about to burst out of the ground bringing their loud buzzing and old exoskeletons with them. There are two groups of these cicadas—one that comes out every 13 years and another every 17. After spending most of their lives underground, they are expected to emerge in mid-May once the soil hits 64 degrees.
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Cicadas Broods Emerging
What is unique this year is that there are actually two different broods of cicadas emerging at the same time. What makes this emergence rare is both broods emerged at the same time hasn’t happened since 1803.
According to Smithsonian, the 13-year ones, called Brood XIX, will pop up in Georgia and the Southeast, while the 17-year ones, known as Brood XIII, will appear in Illinois. This will be the first time since 1803 that these two broods have emerged together.
I remember years ago, my husband worked in New York and would walk to the train station. When he would walk home from the train station and come in the door I would make him go back outside so I could wipe all those shells that landed on him off his hair and shirt.
The cicadas were everywhere and when we used to walk outside, the cicada shells would just drop on our shoulders. So gross, but kind of fascinating at the same time. It is weird to think that these bugs have been living underground, doing their thing, and now they are above ground popping up everywhere.
These cicadas are special because they only come out every 13 or 17 years. It’s like they have their own little alarm clock or timer that lets them know it is time to go outside and play. When they do come out, they make a racket with their buzzing and mating calls. Imagine it’s gonna be loud but I use that noise as a background for meditation.
I know many disagree, but to me, the sound seems relaxing to listen to.
Even though some people might find them annoying, entomologists are pumped about it. They think it’s a really special event, almost magical. And hey, the genus name for these cicadas is literally “magical.”
So, keep an eye out later this April into May, you might just find yourself surrounded by a trillion cicadas. It’s gonna be one heck of a sight and sound!
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