17 States Brace For Rare Event of Trillions of Cicadas Forecasted to Invade the U.S., Last Seen During Thomas Jefferson’s Time

In a historic event, experts predict that the United States will experience the emergence of trillions of Cicadas for the first time in over two centuries, marking a significant milestone in the insect’s life cycle.

At the end of April, an enormous amount of Cicadas are predicted emerge from the earth and congregate in large numbers across 17 states, engaging in a grand mating ritual. And this would be yet another good reason to be thankful you live in Arizona.

What are Cicadas?

Cicadas are in the same family as stink bugs and bed bugs. They live in underground burrows until they are mature enough to rise to the surface. Weeks before they are set to emerge, the insects create tunnels to the surface, but do not come out of their homes until the ground warms to 64 degrees. The bugs are brown at first but darken as they mature. Cicadas are unique because they don’t live long once they emerge from the ground, living only four to six weeks to mate.

Experts are warning that a highly unusual event will occur when two of the largest cicada broods, Brood XIII and XIX, simultaneously emerge in the eastern United States. Brood XIX comes out every 13 years and is about to stake claim throughout the Southeast, having already created countless boreholes in the red Georgia clay.

Shortly after that arrival, the cicada cousins, Brood XIII that come out every 17 years will inundate Illinois.

In 1803, during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, was the last time that the significant emergence of these periodical broods caused a frenzy.

Experts are warning that a massive number of cicadas, potentially reaching into the billions or trillions, will simultaneously emerge in 17 states. The unusual reproductive fury will not occur again until the year 2244. This year, there will be an overlap between the 13- and 17-year cicada broods, which only happens once every 221 years.

Eastern states can expect billions of loud cicadas present everywhere for several weeks, followed by trillions of ants who will consume their dead bodies. They are warning it is expected to cause a foul smell.

Which States Will Be Impacted

Cicadas will become an issue across several states, though as few as two—Illinois and Indiana—will be able to see both broods.

Brood XIII will be seen in Iowa, Wisconsin and possibly even Michigan.

Brood XIX will emerge in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Cicadas are harmless to humans, even though their mating calls can be annoying to human ears. They do not sting or bite, and are not poisonous.