"Cicadageddon 2024: Tracing the Emergence of Brood XIX and Brood XIII Across States"

Trillions of cicadas will emerge in a rare, double-brood event across 17 states in the Southeastern and Midwestern U.S., with an overlap in Illinois and Iowa, beginning in mid-May and lasting through late June. These two broods, Brood XIX and Brood XIII, have the longest life cycle of any insect, waiting 13 or 17 years to emerge. Despite their overwhelming numbers, cicadas are not harmful to humans, pets, or crops, and can provide environmental benefits such as serving as a food source for predators and improving soil quality.