NORFOLK, Va. — Many across the country have been dealing with hordes of loud insects emerging as trillions of cicadas have emerged from the ground. It's led a lot of people to ask: when will the cicadas die out?
This year is unique because it's the first time since 2015 that a 13-year brood is emerging in the same year as a 17-year brood, according to the University of Connecticut. And it's the first time since 1803 that different life cycles of Brood XIX and Brood XIII co-emerged.
Cicadas can be perceived as annoying for several reasons, primarily due to their loud and persistent buzzing noises. During their mating season, male cicadas produce these sounds to attract females, creating a cacophony that can be disruptive, especially in areas where they emerge in large numbers.
Their emergence can have profound effects on local flora, influencing vegetation dynamics and even shaping forest ecosystems.
Entomologists at NC State University say cicadas only emerge once the ground temperature reaches 64 degrees. Professor of Entomology Clyde Sorenson said it'll happen quickly and will look like someone used a shotgun to shoot holes in your yard.
Sorenson said we can expect the emergence to start before the end of April, with larger numbers of the insects beginning to emerge in the days that follow. Brood XIX numbers are expected to peak in May, and they will all be gone by early June.
This cyclical emergence pattern, while fascinating from a biological perspective, can also pose challenges for communities. The sudden influx of cicadas can overwhelm local ecosystems, leading to potential disruptions in plant life and predator-prey dynamics.