Cicadas 2024 Canada Time

Billions of Cicadas to Emerge This Spring Amid Rare Double Brood

Updated March 17, 2024 9:53 am

This is a big, big event.

More than a trillion noisy, inch-long cicadas are set to emerge from underground this spring to embark on the final leg of their journey. Brood XIII, which emerges every 17 years, and Brood XIX, which comes out every 13 years, will overlap for the first time in 221 years.

This overlap is a rare event, and it's expected to draw crowds of people to the affected areas. Cicadas are harmless to humans, but their loud, buzzing songs can be deafening.

The cicadas will emerge from their underground burrows in late April or early May. They will then spend the next few weeks mating and laying eggs. After that, they will die.

The emergence of the cicadas is a reminder of the interconnectedness of nature. These insects play an important role in the ecosystem, and their presence is a sign of a healthy environment.