2024 Cicada Invasion: What to Expect and Where

Billions, if not trillions, of cicadas from two different broods, Brood XIII and Brood XIX, are set to emerge in the Eastern half of the United States this spring, a rare event that last occurred in 1803. These insects, known for their 17- and 13-year cycles, employ an evolutionary strategy of mass emergence to overwhelm their predators. Their synchronized emergence is likely an adaptation to ensure their survival, as their predators cannot consume all of them at once. This year's emergence will be concentrated in Northern Illinois and the Southeastern states, with the cicadas expected to number in the billions due to the simultaneous awakening of the two broods.