Billions of cicadas are expected to surface this spring as two different broods emerge simultaneously.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Billions of cicadas will begin to crawl out of the ground in parts of the United States in the coming weeks, raising a racket and creating a mess as they leave behind discarded exoskeletons.
Two broods of periodical cicadas — Brood XIX, which emerges every 13 years, and Brood XIII, which rises every 17 years — will result in historic numbers in the coming weeks.
Kait Chapman
Courtesy photo
Brood XIX will be seen and heard across Missouri, Arkansas and southern Illinois, while Brood XIII will be concentrated in northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and part of Iowa.
The overlap of the two broods will be unique because of the convergence of the two adjacent periodical broods on wildly different schedules, said Kait Chapman, an urban entomologist with University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
"That's what the big talk is," said Chapman, who has worked for UNL Extension for four years. "Not only are the 13-year and 17-year cicadas co-emerging, there's going to be a little area of overlap in north-central Illinois."
The last time Brood XIX and Brood XIII emerged at the same time was in 1803, according to NPR.
For years, both broods have remained underground, feeding on tree roots as they wait to reach maturity. In mid-May, when the soil warms, they'll crawl out of the ground, spread wings and get to work doing cicada things: Making a lot of noise and mating.
"They sound pretty similar (to annual cicadas) — they are very loud and noisy, which is why the overlap is getting so much attention," Chapman said. "People are bracing themselves for the big noise that's going to come with it."
After spending a few weeks above ground, Brood XIX and Brood XIII will exhaust their lifespan, but their offspring will return to ground to start the cycle over once more.
Southeast Nebraska won't hear the high-pitched buzzing of the cicada until later this summer, however, when the annual cicadas — which are larger in size and "classic dark green," according to Chapman — set the soundtrack for late summer evenings.
Brood IV, also known as the Kansan Brood, which is the farthest west of the periodical cicadas, stretches from as far south as Oklahoma, through Kansas, western Missouri, Iowa and Southeast Nebraska — including the Platte River Valley northeast of Lincoln.
That brood, which is smaller and darker than the annual cicadas most recognize with red eyes, last emerged in 2015, Chapman said, and isn't expected to rise again until 2032.
"We'll get pretty close, but if people want to see this rare event, I suggest they travel a little bit," she said.
Every 221 years, two major cicada broods, XIII and XIX, emerge together. The last time this happened, Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States
Top Journal Star photos for April 2024
Zeman Elementary School first grade teacher Eileen Schmeichel is doused with water from a splash tower during the Zeman Color Run at Zeman Elementary School on Saturday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Wakiya Dolezal, 9, of the Winnebago & Dakota Tribes performs a shawl dance during the Unite Intertribal Powwow on Saturday at Meier Commons.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
A partial solar eclipse is seen over Lincoln, Monday at Hyde Observatory.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Sen. Jen Day of Omaha (left) is embraced by Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha after Day honored him for his service to the Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Members of various public safety agencies from around the state gathered alongside Ross Bartlett's family and friends at St. Mark's United Methodist Church on Friday to remember the 54-year-old Ceresco police officer, who died last week after he was hit by a car while conducting a traffic stop near U.S. 77 and Little Salt Road in Lancaster County.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Westside's goalkeeper Maia Jaroch (right) slides in to take the ball away from Lincoln Pius X's Tatum Heimes (center) as she is guarded by Brianna Busher (17) during the game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Lincoln Pius X.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Engine seven crew members Eric Morgan (left) and Kirsten Bell practice advancing with a fire hose at Den Hartog Field on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Bryan Olesen (right) embraces his daughter Jadyn as they perform with her band AM/FM during The Voice Watch Party Hometown Celebration on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Bourbon Theatre.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Trey Lamkins, a horticulture major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, rubs his head after seeing his new look for the first time during the Shave for the Brave event at the Willa Cather Dining Complex on City Campus on Thursday. Twelve UNL students shaved their heads to raise funds to help find cures for children with cancer. Lamkins' mother passed away last August. "Though she's no longer with us, her spirit fuels my determination to make a difference in the lives of those still fighting," he wrote. Around $6,000 was raised ahead of the event at UNL, which has put on the event for the last seven years. The donations will go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, but the hair will be donated to the Matter of Trust, which uses the donated hair to clean up oil spills and make goods such as burlap sacks and stockings.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
The Silver Hawks start to dogpile on Lincoln Southwest's Charley Kort (right) after she scored the game-winning goal Saturday in the final seconds of the second overtime against Gretna at UBT Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Sen. Julie Slama of Peru speaks on the floor carrying her son, Win La Grone, Thursday at the Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Newman Grove FFA members Kailey Patzel (back left), Allyx Forre (front left), Aubree Whitaker (back right) and Cora Patzel and Hayes Center FFA member Addison Richards (front right) work together to pack Mercy Meals on Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Thousands of high school FFA members, advisors and guests are in Lincoln this week for the 96th annual state convention. The meals FFA members prepared on Thursday, which include rice, dehydrated vegetables, soy and a flavored vitamin and mineral powder, will be delivered to children in need.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Davieian Williams competes in the boys triple jump event during the Harold Scott track meet on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Beechner Athletic Complex.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Ainsley Pickel, 14 (from left), Owen Elder, 13, Junior Martinez, 14, and Yara Othman, 14, watch as guest judges Jacob Osborn, Tobi Scaggs and Kelly Phillips taste their pineapple-infused chicken dish during the Scott Chopped Competition on Thursday at Scott Middle School. The day before the competition, the class was split into teams and told four ingredients they would be required to use to make a meal. The ingredients were chicken, carrots, pineapple and ramen noodles.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln North Star students (from left), senior Ezekiel Menter, and juniors Brooke Adam, Kristi Chumber and Rachel Harre look at mock stock information as they participate in the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. More than 600 students from 27 high schools participated in the event.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Demolition began Monday on the Clyde Malone Community Center, 2032 U St. The 14,000-square-foot building, built in the 1980s, will be replaced at the same site with a new, three-story, 54,000-square-foot building. Completion is estimated in 2025. During construction, Malone’s programs will have temporary homes in partner organizations. The total cost of designing and building the new facility is $23 million. To date, Malone has received public and private commitments totaling just more than half of the $23 million goal.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Dr. Jeff Gold, the priority candidate for the University of Nebraska President position, speaks during a public forum on Monday at the City Campus Union.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood (left) stands with Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha as Wayne asks him a question on his bill during floor debate at the Capitol on Thursday, the second-to-last day of the session.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest's Caden Ransom (center) celebrates his home run against Lincoln Pius X, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Sherman Field.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Good Life Community Development executive director Bill Radke (left) checks on grilled pineapples next to Cody Shafer in the kitchen at JTK Cuisine & Cocktails.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Kevin Matthews, a Bellevue East sophomore (from left), Brooklyn Freeman, a Omaha Westview sophomore, and Royalty Aguer, a Papillion La Vista South senior, try to keep their cup stack together while participating in a team-building activity during the Greater Than One District Equity Collaboration Summit at the Don Clifton Professional Learning Center on Wednesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
On April 9, the Lincoln Police Department responded to a reported shooting an apartment in the 1100 block of G Street at about noon.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Bartender Ashley Novak pours a mixed drink at Deb's Place on Saturday in Lincoln. Deb's Place, formerly Cliff's Martini Lounge, offers more than 30 signature martinis.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Eighth-graders (from left) Treyvious Buettner, Ethan Poulsen, Eli Norval and Yousif Kadhim look up at the solar eclipse on Monday at Mickle Middle School.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Nebraska head coach Will Bolt looks on during the Ohio State game on Saturday at Haymarket Park.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Rhett Stokes (left) outs Ohio State's Henry Kaczmar on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Haymarket Park.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Trey Coley Lusk as Barbie Esther (center) and the rest of the cast rehearse a musical performance for the Barbie Megillah Purim Spiel on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at South Street Temple. Purim takes place annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month Adar. This year, Purim was observed on March 23 and 24. The holiday surrounds Queen Esther, a Hebrew woman who saved the Jewish people from a royal official named Haman. Every year, Jewish communities around the world read the Megillah of Esther, a scroll detailing the story of Esther’s heroics. South Street Temple will be presenting Barbie Megillah directed by Zoë Watch and written by Jaime Marx. The performance will combine the story of Esther with themes from the 2023 hit film Barbie.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Kaleb Garr takes a bite out of his breakfast Runza on Wednesday. The Runzas weren't being sold. Instead, customers were asked to give a donation that would go toward Runza's Feed the Need charity event.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel remove a person following a standoff at the Casey's near the airport on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest’s theater director Austyn McKee sits for a portrait on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Lincoln Southwest.
KATY COWELL Journal Star
Nebraska's Bella Bacon (right) scores at home plate next to Kansas' Lyric Moore on Tuesday at Bowlin Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln North Star's Jameson Lantz is tagged out by Lincoln Southwest's Landon Sandy at home plate Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy answers questions at Bryan Medical Center East Campus on Tuesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Weightlifting students jog around the weight room on Tuesday at Waverly High School. The current weight room is located on top of the locker rooms in a space that was originally designed as a wrestling practice area. “In order for the program to grow, we need more space,” said Anthony Harms, the strength and conditioning coach at Waverly High School.
KATY COWELL, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!