You might’ve heard of it: the cidadapocalypse, cicada-mageddon, the cicada invasion… whatever you want to call it, get ready for trillions of bugs.
Oh… what’s going on?
2024 is the first year since 1803 when two different broods of cicadas (one with a 13-year cycle and one with a 17-year cycle) will emerge at the same time from underground.
According to NBC News, “This year’s dual emergence is a once-in-a-lifetime event. While any given 13-year brood and 17-year brood can occasionally emerge at the same time, each specific pair will see their cycles aligned only once every 221 years. What’s more, this year’s cicada groups, known as Brood XIII and Brood XIX, happened to make their homes adjacent to one another, with a narrow overlap in central Illinois.”
So while Illinois is getting the brunt of the bugs, the entire midwest and southeast will be affected.
Why does this matter?
If you’ve ever stepped outside at night in the south (most of you know where we’re going with this), you’ve probably heard how the night seems to scream. The loud sounds of insects, frogs, and, of course, cicadas is probably etched into everyone who grew up in the south’s memory. Now picture that times a billion (or even trillion in some estimates) bugs.
As far as the environment goes, this is actually a good thing. Lots of animals eat cicadas, and their bodies will nourish the soil after their short lifespans end. Cicadas are completely harmless to humans, as well–even if they’re rather large mating rituals can be annoying. (Try to think of it like a college roommate with thin walls, ya know?)
Happy Cicada season, Atlanta! It’s gonna be a big one!