This year, in more than a dozen states, trillions of periodic cicadas from two families are emerging from their underground habitats, filling the air and making a lot of noise in the process.
A total of 17 states will have two offspring this year. His 13-year-old Brood XIX, located primarily in the Southeast, and his 17-year-old Brood XIII, located in the Midwest. These two offspring, which have not appeared together since 1803, will now be found in both Illinois and Iowa.
You may have already seen these cicadas emerge, but how long will they be around this year, and how long will they stay underground before emerging?
Here’s what you need to know about cicada life above and below ground.
2024 semi-map:See where Blued XIX and XIII cicadas are emerging across the US
When do cicadas emerge?
According to Cicada Mania, cicadas begin emerging from their underground habitats when eight inches of soil reaches 64 degrees, often triggered by warm rain.
Thanks to warmer temperatures, cicadas have already been spotted on the ground in the Southeast and Midwest states.
Can you eat cicadas?Try these delicious recipes this summer at Brood XIX, Brood XIII
How long do cicadas stay on the ground?
The lifespan of a cicada depends on its family and whether it is an annual or periodic species.
The two periodic chicks this summer are Brood XIX, which has a 13-year life cycle, and Brood XIII, which has a 17-year life cycle.
When male and female periodic cicadas mate and the latter lays eggs, the insects die after only a few weeks on the ground, three to six weeks after they first emerge.
This means that many of this year’s periodic cicadas are scheduled to die in June, but some may die in late May or July, depending on when they emerge.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, annual cicada larvae remain underground for two to five years. These cicadas are called “annual cicadas” because some cicadas emerge as adults every year.
What is the life cycle of a cicada?
The life of a cicada begins with mating. The female then lays her eggs in a hole in a tree branch or shrub, National Geographic reports. The eggs hatch after 6 to 10 weeks, and the cicada larvae burrow into the ground and attach themselves to tree roots.
Cicadas spend a period of 2 to 17 years underground, depending on the species. According to National Geographic, they then appear in adult form.
2024 spawn map: see where Broods XIX, XIII will spawn
The two cicada swarms are predicted to appear in a total of 17 states in the South and Midwest. They appear when 8 inches of soil reaches 64 degrees and are expected to begin in May and last through late June in many states.
The last time the two were born together was in 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president.
Contributor: Olivia Munson, USA TODAY.
