Cicada map: Where billions of cicadas will emerge in 2024 [Video]

WASHINGTON — This story from The Conversation is by John Cooley (Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut) and Chris Simon (Senior Research Scientist of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut)

In the wake of North America’s recent solar eclipse, another historic natural event is on the horizon. From late April through June 2024, the largest brood of 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will co-emerge with a midwestern brood of 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII.

For about four weeks, scattered wooded and suburban areas will ring with cicadas’ distinctive whistling, buzzing and chirping mating calls. After mating, each female will lay hundreds of eggs in pencil-size tree branches. Then the adult cicadas will die. Once the eggs hatch, new cicada nymphs will fall from the trees and burrow back underground, starting the cycle …