Get ready for an incredible natural phenomenon in the spring and summer of 2024! Billions of cicadas, insects famous for their loud, buzzing sound, are set to emerge across a wide swath of the United States. If you’re wondering, How Long Will The Cicadas Be Here, you’re not alone. This emergence, visible and audible from southern Wisconsin down through Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, is a significant event. But what makes 2024 truly special is the simultaneous emergence of two different broods of periodical cicadas – a spectacle that hasn’t occurred since Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, about 221 years ago. One brood has been developing underground for 13 years, and the other for 17 years. While the precise location of their overlapping emergence is still being determined, Illinois is expected to be at the heart of this unique event. Entomologists and bug enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating this emergence, and you can prepare too by learning more about these fascinating creatures and their lives.
Alt text: Group of periodical cicadas on leaves, showcasing their wing structure and red eyes, a natural insect spectacle.
When is the Cicada Emergence Expected in 2024?
To understand how long the cicadas will be here, it’s helpful to know when they are expected to arrive. The cicadas emerging in 2024 belong to Brood XIII and Brood XIX. These are just two of the thousands of cicada species worldwide, but these particular broods are periodical cicadas known for their synchronized mass emergences. While the exact timing can vary slightly depending on weather and location, the most significant emergence of Brood XIII and Brood XIX cicadas is predicted to occur within a two to three-week window from mid-May through early June. It’s possible that some cicadas could appear as early as late April if conditions are favorable. Keep an eye out as spring progresses!
Alt text: Abundance of cicadas clustered on a tree trunk, illustrating the density of a periodical cicada emergence.
Where Will the Cicadas Emerge?
If you’re in the Midwest or parts of the South, you might be wondering, “where exactly will these cicadas be?”. Brood XIII and Brood XIX are expected to emerge across a region encompassing southwestern Wisconsin and extending southward through parts of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. Online maps can provide more detailed visualizations of the expected emergence areas. You can find maps indicating the locations of Brood XIII and Brood XIX emergences for a clearer picture.
Cicadas will appear in various environments, from urban areas to natural landscapes. While they will be widespread, some areas will experience higher concentrations than others. To pinpoint these “hot spots,” citizen science and media reports will be valuable resources. Websites and apps like Cicada Safari and iNaturalist are excellent tools for tracking cicada sightings and staying updated on emergence locations. Cicada Safari, in particular, is a dedicated app packed with information and designed to help cicada enthusiasts track and learn about these insects.
Alt text: Map showing the overlapping emergence zones of Cicada Broods XIII and XIX in the United States for 2024.
How Long Will the Cicadas Be Here? Understanding Their Adult Lifespan
Now, to answer the crucial question: how long will the cicadas be here once they emerge? Periodical cicadas have a relatively short adult lifespan above ground. After spending 13 or 17 years underground as nymphs, they emerge for just four to six weeks as adults. This period is dedicated to reproduction. So, while the emergence event itself might feel like it lasts a long time due to the sheer number of cicadas, individual adult cicadas are only active for about a month to a month and a half. After this period, the adult cicadas will have completed their life cycle above ground, and the buzzing will subside until the next emergence cycle.
Alt text: Tree branches damaged by cicada egg-laying, known as flagging, a sign of cicada activity.
The Cicada Life Cycle: From Nymphs to Adults
To fully appreciate how long the cicadas will be here in their adult form, it’s important to understand their entire life cycle. For most of their lives, periodical cicadas exist as nymphs beneath the soil. These nymphs feed on fluids from plant roots, growing slowly and molting several times over their 13 or 17 years underground. When the time for emergence arrives, triggered by soil temperature, nymphs emerge en masse. They climb trees or other vertical surfaces and undergo their final molt, shedding their exoskeletons to reveal their adult winged forms.
The newly emerged adult cicadas then focus on reproduction. Male cicadas produce their distinctive loud buzzing calls to attract females. After mating, females lay eggs in slits they cut into tree branches. Once the eggs hatch, tiny nymphs drop to the ground and burrow into the soil, starting the cycle anew. This subterranean phase is lengthy, lasting the vast majority of their lives. The brief adult phase, which is the period we are most aware of, is a concentrated burst of activity focused solely on reproduction before they naturally die off.
Alt text: Shed cicada exoskeleton clinging to bark, a common sight after cicada emergence as nymphs transform into adults.
The Mystery of 13 and 17-Year Cycles
The long underground development of periodical cicadas raises the question: why 13 or 17 years? The exact reasons are still debated, but two main hypotheses exist. One theory suggests that these prime-numbered cycles evolved as a survival strategy to avoid predators and parasites. By emerging at long, irregular intervals, it becomes difficult for predators to synchronize their life cycles with the cicadas. Another hypothesis involves preventing hybridization with other cicada species. Emerging on unique cycles reduces the chances of interbreeding with different broods, potentially preserving the traits that make periodical cicadas successful. Whether either of these hypotheses fully explains the phenomenon remains an area of ongoing scientific investigation.
Alt text: Newly emerged cicada nymph, showing its pale color before exoskeleton hardening, moments after leaving the soil.
Cicadas and the Environment: Benefits and Harmlessness
Despite their noisy presence, cicadas are not harmful and actually offer several benefits to the environment. As nymphs, they aerate the soil through their burrowing activity. When they emerge in massive numbers, they serve as a significant food source for birds, mammals, reptiles, and other animals. After they die, their decaying bodies enrich the soil with nutrients.
Contrary to some misconceptions, cicadas cause negligible damage to plants. While females lay eggs in tree branches, the resulting “flagging” (twig dieback) is typically not harmful to mature trees. Cicadas are also not dangerous to humans. They do not bite or sting, and while they might attempt to probe skin with their mouthparts if handled, it is harmless. Cicadas are not known to transmit any diseases.
Alt text: Profile of an adult cicada on a tree, highlighting its large eyes and robust body structure.
Embracing the Cicada Spectacle
In conclusion, while the intense period of cicada activity might seem long, remember that individual adult cicadas are only above ground for about four to six weeks. So, to reiterate how long will the cicadas be here in their buzzing adult stage – it’s a relatively short window of nature’s spectacle. This 2024 double emergence is a truly rare event, a chance to witness a remarkable biological phenomenon that connects us to natural cycles spanning centuries. Instead of being bothered by their presence, consider embracing this unique opportunity to observe and appreciate these fascinating creatures and their role in the ecosystem.
Alt text: Cicada shell casing on grass, a common sign of cicada emergence and transformation.
