trillions of periodical cicada This spring they will burst out of the ground, humming noisily and bringing with them their molted exoskeletons. Here's what you can do Look at America's cicadas
When will cicadas come out in 2024?
There are two groups of periodic cicadas: those that appear every 13 years and those that appear every 17 years. Cicadas live underground for most of their lives and emerge when the soil reaches 64 degrees.
Because it varies depending on temperature, its appearance may vary depending on location. In 2024, that's expected to be around May or early June, according to Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois.
In southern states like South Carolina, which warms up more quickly, cicadas may appear as early as April, but in cooler states like the upper Midwest, they may not appear until June.
This year, both 13-year and 17-year cicadas will emerge, increasing in numbers not seen in generations.
They mate, molt, die, and leave behind their offspring, which they bury in the ground and remain dormant until their next litter cycle. It lasts only about a month on land and is not dangerous. Unlike grasshoppers, which eat plants, cicadas get their nutrients from small branches. However, most trees are not harmed.
Still, Johnson advises against planting new trees before the periodic cicadas emerge. You can place netting around small trees and shrubs, making sure the holes are no larger than 1/4 inch to keep insects out.
Where will the cicadas be in 2024?
A 13-year cicada called Brood XIX will emerge in Georgia and the Southeast. The 17-year cicada called Brood XIII Appear in Illinois. This is the first time since 1803 that two cubs appeared at the same time. The next time this happens will be in 2037.
The nesting of these two groups has been called a “cicada dong” by experts, but it is not the largest cicada event. The two largest clusters, XIX and XIV, will come together in 2076. “That’s Cicadapalooza,” said John Cooley, a cicada expert at the University of Connecticut.
The swarms will appear peaceful, but Cooley said hundreds and even trillions of cicadas are expected. This averages out to $1 million per acre across millions of acres.
However, some cicadas may have come into contact with fungal pathogens such as: Massospora cicada It makes them extremely sexual. sexually transmitted infections They turn into so-called “zombie cicadas.” A chalky white plug erupts from the body and causes the genitals to fall off. Cicada expert Matthew Kasson said it's not yet clear how the fungus affects other wildlife, animals or humans.
“The cicadas continue to engage in their normal activities as they did when they were healthy,” Kasson, an associate professor of mycology and forest pathology at West Virginia University, told CBS News. “She flies around like she's mating, she walks on plants, and then a third of her body turns into fungus. It's really strange.”
The map shows where cicadas can be found in the United States.
Clusters of cicadas can be seen primarily in parts of Illinois and Iowa, as well as in Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. there is.
The two groups will appear together in north-central Illinois for the first time since 1803.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's map tracks the emergence of 13- and 17-year cicadas from 2013 to 2029.
USDA