Billions of cicadas 'awaken' after 221 years in the United States

Two cicada broods, Brood X and Brood XIX, had an interesting encounter in the United States after 221 years, despite their different life cycles. Their first simultaneous appearance was in 1803, creating a fortuitous combination that caught the attention of scientists and the American public.

Brood X emerges and sheds its skin after 17 years of deep underground sleep, while Brood XIX has a 13-year lifecycle. According to American scientists, these are among the strangest life cycles of any creatures on earth.

In 2024, people across the southeastern United States will witness a natural phenomenon that hasn’t occurred in 221 years. Both species of cicadas will burrow up and emerge from the ground this spring, according to entomologist Gene Kritsky of St. Joseph's University.

Brood XIII is found in the western United States, primarily in Illinois and Chicago, and also in states such as Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa. Brood XIX inhabits various states, including Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

The chirping of billions of cicadas can reach 100 decibels, equivalent to the sound of a jackhammer drilling into a wall. The cicadas will burrow up and emerge from the ground to complete their growth when the ground temperature reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit. They will then molt, find a mate, reproduce, and die, following their life cycle.

Researchers confirm that, although this is an extremely rare phenomenon, the cicadas do not harm humans or plants, nor do they carry diseases. They only make noise for a short time. For insect-eating animals, however, this is a sumptuous feast.