When The Experts Say Billions of Cicadas Will Begin to Emerge in Illinois

We've known for months that two broods of cicadas will emerge from the ground simultaneously in Illinois. It's an event that has occurred for over 200 years. Billions of cicadas are coming, discover when experts say we're likely to start seeing them.

Why So Many Cicadas Are Emerging in Illinois

Once every 13 or 17 years a Periodical cicada brood arrives in big numbers. This year will be different. Very different.

This year, two broods are coming. Simultaneously.

Brood XIII makes an appearance every 17 years, while Brood XIX pops up every 13 years. This year, they’re going to have to learn to share, as they’ll be wriggling topside together.

An event, according to the experts, that only happens once every 221 years.

I'm overwhelmed with cicada knowledge I didn't even have three months ago. Get ready for a very noisy backyard, filled with trillions of cicada eggs. You'll see the eggs and other cicada parts all over your trees and deck, anywhere they find wood.

Cicadas even have reproductive issues similar to sexually transmitted diseases in humans. One big difference is that a male cicada with a human-like STD turns into a sex-crazed zombie trying to spread the pathogen. A fungus begins to grow on infected males until their reproductive organs and butts fall off.

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Oh, many people like to cook and eat cicadas, too.

Now, the info I've been waiting for most:

When Will Cicadas Begin Emerging in Illinois

Here's the newest information, shared by FOX 32 Chicago, on cicadas emerging throughout Illinois this year.

Cicadas won't make the trip up 8 inches to the surface until the ground reaches a temperature of 64 degrees.

In Illinois, as of now (4/15/24), the soil is around 47 degrees.

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