The cicadas are coming! The cicadas are coming! And when they arrive this spring, you will hear the buzz
Most Midwesterners are used to hearing cicadas singing in the late summer evenings. But almost every year in a specific region of the U.S., a different kind of cicada emerges: the periodical cicadas.
These insects spend most of their lifespan underground. But every 13 or 17 years, a particular brood of periodical cicadas emerges like clockwork from the warming spring ground to eat, grow, molt, mate, and die — singing (screaming?) all the while.
In 2024 Illinois will greet not one but two broods of periodical cicadas. Seventeen-year Brood XIII will emerge in the northern part of the state, and 13-year Brood XIX will emerge in a large swath across the middle of the country, including much of central and southern Illinois.
Thank you to Dr. Catherine Dana, an affiliate of the Illinois Natural History Survey, for answering our cicada questions. When we read a U of I interview with her earlier this year, we knew we wanted to meet this chambanamom, to share her infectious enthusiasm about the impending emergence here of Magicicada 13-year Brood XIX.
In our discussion, Dr. Dana goes into more detail about what we can expect to see in our area, as well as how each of us can participate in scientific observation of her favorite insect.
Q: Will our early spring affect the emergence of either brood? Will the broods actually overlap in East Central Illinois?
Yes, warmer soil could lead to an earlier emergence. We expect a similar timing to past emergences, maybe slightly earlier. In the Midwest, Brood X made its appearance around mid-May in 2021, with the highest numbers observed from late May to early June. I anticipate a similar emergence pattern this time. There may be some areas of overlap (of 2024 Broods XIII and XIX) in Sangamon County and a few other places, but don’t expect noticeably more cicadas.
Q: Is anything about these periodical cicadas – either alive or dead – toxic to kids? To pets?
Cicadas are not poisonous, so it’s okay if your pet decides to snack on one. People and various animals eat them too, and you can even find recipes online. Just a note: if you’re allergic to shellfish, you might react to cicadas as well. Also, they can contain mercury from polluted soils, so enjoy them in moderation.
Q: Will there be an obvious difference in cicada density by neighborhood, or from town to town?
Absolutely! The more undisturbed the soil the better. We anticipate hot spots in Monticello and Mahomet. As a scientist, I am very interested in where they will emerge in Champaign-Urbana. I encourage families to be citizen scientists and submit sightings to iNaturalist. Based on previous sightings there should be some in Meadowbrook and neighborhoods in southeast Urbana, but likely not as many as other places.
Q: Generally how old do the trees in a neighborhood or area have to be, to have accumulated a significant population of cicadas?
In general if there weren’t trees or large shrubs there 13 years ago (or 17 years if you are further north), don’t expect cicadas there this year. It also takes time for cicadas to settle in newly developed areas.
Q: Will we encounter more molt carcasses (leftover shed skins) or actual dead cicadas?
You’ll mostly find molts, as each corresponds to a cicada that’s either flying around or has become a meal for predators. In mowed areas, you might see more dead cicadas since they struggle with molting there. For a fun experiment, try placing tall objects near trees in your backyard for cicadas to molt on safely.
Q: Any particularly gross details you want to share about cicadas?
There is a crazy fungus called Massospora that infects periodical cicadas! It fills up most of their insides to the point that end of their body can fall off, releasing spores. Scientists call them “flying salt shakers of death” because they spread the fungus as they fly.
Our thanks again to Dr. Dana for sharing her cicada expertise with us. She is excited to be participating in special cicada events coming up in our area: at Allerton on June 1, and at the Illinois Natural History Survey Insect Collection on June 3. Keep up with these events on Facebook.
All photos in this article provided by Catherine Dana and show Magicicada Brood X cicadas from 2021.