A HUGE swarm of trillions of cicadas is set to emerge in the US and certain states will be affected more than others.
The map below reveals which states will see the largest number of cicadas as two large broods are expected to emerge this month.
When the two insect broods start to mate they’re expected to create a large amount of noise.
“Billions, even trillions, of cicadas are going to emerge at the same time across 17 states,” Chris Simon, a professor in UConn’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, told Live Science.
Brood XIII and XIX have been living underground for 17 and 13 years respectively.
It’s unusual for two broods of cicadas to emerge from the ground at the same time.
The last time this kind of event happened was 221 years ago.
That even occurred in 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was president.
It was not predicted to happen again until 2244.
Due to the unusuality of the event, it’s now being referred to as a cicada apocalypse by some social media users.
“Just found out that there’s a cicada apocalypse happening in a couple days where trillions of cicadas are gonna emerge from the ground and buzz around, and my state is one of the areas affected…. is anyone else TERRIFIED,” one person wrote on X.
“There is going to be a Cicada Apocalypse this year. Far out,” another said on the platform.
Periodical broods are found in eastern North America and tend to emerge in large numbers.
Mating season for the creatures can be a noisy and chaotic display that lasts for weeks.
The male cicadas emit loud noises to attract females.
WHICH STATES WILL BE MOST AFFECTED?
The insects are expected to appear in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
- Virginia
What are cicadas?
Unlike annual cicadas, periodical cicadas only come out en masse every 13 or 17 years.
- There are more than 3,000 cicada species but only seven are periodical cicadas (Magicicada).
- Most species have black bodies, red eyes, and red-orange wing veins.
- They are only found in North America while annual cicadas can emerge around the rest of the world.
- This year’s dual event will feature Brood XIII — which emerges every 17 years in the Midwest and Brood XIX.
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cicadas are not harmful to humans, pets, household gardens, or crops.
Source: National Geographic