In a few weeks, trillions of periodic cicadas will emerge from years of underground sojourn, and more than a dozen states will be abuzz.
Seeds XIX and XIII are a rare double-spawn event that spans 17 states, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. The last time his two siblings hatched together was 221 years ago, and after this year, he is predicted to hatch again in 2245.
When conditions are right, two chicks emerge in large numbers, feed, make noise, mate, and die. Here's what you need to know about where to find the 13-year-old Brood XIX and 17-year-old Brood XIII.
Double cicada chicks in 2024: Find out where XIII, XIX chicks will appear
The two cicada swarms occur in 17 states in the Southeast and Midwest, and overlap in parts of Illinois and Iowa. They appear when 8 inches of soil reaches 64 degrees and are expected to begin in mid-May and last until late June.
The last time the two were born together was in 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president.
What are periodic cicadas?
The 13-year Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII are both periodic cicadas, emerging every 13 or 17 years throughout North America. This is different from the annual cicadas that appear every year.
As you may recall, the last cycle to emerge in large numbers was the 17-year-old Brood X, which was found throughout the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard in 2021.
According to North Carolina State University Extension, annual cicadas are dark green to black with green wing veins and are typically larger than periodic cicadas, which can be identified by their red eyes, red legs, and red wing veins.
In contrast to cicadas that emerge annually in July and August, periodic cicadas emerge earlier, usually in mid-to-late May. According to North Carolina State University Extension, annual cicadas “sing loudly”, begin mating and lay eggs about two weeks after emerging. The first nymph falls to the ground and begins feeding on the roots beneath the soil, and two years later a fully developed nymph appears, molts, and becomes an adult.
On the ground, periodic cicadas have a similar life cycle, appearing in much larger numbers and being much noisier. At the end of the season, the next generation of nymphs moves underground and remains for 13 or 17 years.
