In a rare occurrence, a trillion cicadas from two different broods are expected to begin appearing in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States at the end of April.
It’s the first time since 1803 that Brood XIX, or the Great Southern Brood, and Brood XIII, or the Northern Illinois Brood, will appear together in an event known as a dual emergence.
Thomas Jefferson was president the last time that the Northern Illinois Brood’s 17-year cycle aligned with the Great Southern Brood’s 13-year period.
After this spring, it’ll be another 221 years before the groups, which are geographically adjacent, appear together again.
A roughly 16-state area will be center stage for these periodical cicadas, which differ from those that appear annually in smaller numbers.
Persons:
It’s, Thomas Jefferson, it’ll
Organizations:
Southern, Northern Illinois, Northern Illinois Brood’s
Locations:
Midwest, United States, Northern