Cicadas Set to Emerge: A Decade of Swarms Mapped
Massive Emergencies in 2024
Where Billions of Cicadas Will Swarm
A historic cicada emergence is underway, with billions of the insects expected to emerge this spring and over the next decade. The 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, are currently emerging in Georgia and the Southeast. This synchronous emergence with the 17-year Brood X, which last emerged in 2015, is a rare event that happens only once every 221 years.
The cicadas will continue to emerge until June, creating a cacophony of sound that can be deafening at times. While the insects are harmless to humans, they can cause damage to trees and crops. The emergence also provides a feeding bonanza for birds, bats, and other animals.
A map released by the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shows the areas where the cicadas are expected to emerge. The map indicates that the heaviest concentrations will be in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. However, cicadas may also emerge in smaller numbers in surrounding states.
The 2024 emergence is particularly significant because it marks the first time since 2015 that a 13-year brood will emerge in the same year as a 17-year brood. This synchronous emergence is expected to create even larger swarms of cicadas than usual.
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