CICADAS – What’s All the Buzz About?!

Chances are, you’ve heard some buzz in the news surrounding cicadas lately. According to USA Today, “two separate periodical cicada ‘broods’ will emerge simultaneously in 17 states this year. This co-emergence hasn’t occurred in 221 years and won’t happen again until 2245.”   This once-in-a-lifetime emergence will occur mid-May through late June, 2024.

The periodical broods that have been buzzing all over the news lately are Brood XIII and Brood XIX.  Let’s break down exactly what makes these unique insects so noteworthy, why everyone’s been talking about them, and how they might affect your next trip to the Smoky Mountains!

Cicadas are a family of insects containing over 3,000 species. Like many insects, they spend the vast majority of their lives (which can range from 2 to 17 years) inconspicuously underground as nymphs. After eventually molting their exoskeleton, they only spend about 4 to 6 weeks living in the adult bodies that come to mind for most of us when we think of cicadas.

Summarized comparison between cicadas at different stages of life cycle. Source: Purdue University

This metamorphosis and emergence into adulthood happens at different times for different “broods.” There are 15+ different broods of cicadas, meaning 15 different cycles of emergence followed by periodical cicadas. While many species of annual cicadas emerge each summer, the periodical cicadas may only emerge once every 13 or 17 years, en masse. This is thought to be an evolutionary strategy that keeps predators from relying on these species of cicadas for food, and furthermore over saturates the “grocery aisles” such that even during an emergence when predation occurs, the populations are too plentiful to be at risk for extinction.

Close-up view of a cicada. Source: National Geographic Kids

So, what does this mean for you? Well, depending on where you live (see map below), your neck of the woods may become noticeably louder this summer. Male cicadas have “sound boxes” in their abdomens. The expand and contract a membrane, the “tymbal,” in order to attract female cicadas. As many of us in the south have experienced during the dog days of summer… The hotter the day, the louder this sound tends to grow. With the co-emergence of two massive periodical broods occurring this summer, we can expect the usual summer song of the cicada to be significantly amplified in many areas. However, outside of a bit of noise pollution, cicadas pose no threat to humans. They do not bite or sting, nor do they feed on crops or destroy structures.

Light orange = Brood XIII. Dark orange = Brood XIX. Grey = Counties where other broods are found. Source: U.S. Forest Service, USA Today

Here in the Smokies specifically, Brood XIX may make its debut, but Brood XIII will primarily emerge in the Midwest. That means that we aren’t likely to experience the full force of the co-emergence in this neck of the woods, so luckily, you can leave the earplugs behind when planning your summer vacation to the mountains! If you live in an area where both broods are co-emerging, western North Carolina might just be a welcomed respite from the up-to-100 decibel noise your area might be host to!

While retreating to the Smokies, you won’t want to skip out on a guided hike or kayak tour with Carolina Bound Adventures to learn more fascinating natural history like this from our expert local outdoor adventure guides!