What’s the buzz with Cicadas?
Cicadas are winged insects that are known for their loud and vibrant songs. These creatures start their lives as eggs, and they can live up to 17 years!
Scientists divide Cicadas into two groups: annual and periodical. These bugs all emerge from the ground at the same time. These groups are called ‘Broods’ and they appear after a dormant period of either 13 or 17 years.
This year (2024), is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, where Broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time. This is the first time this has happened since 1803, and it won’t happen again until 2245!
Periodical cicadas are among the longest-lived insects on the planet. They spend most of that time living underground, feeding on tree roots. Once the soil warms enough in the spring (64°F at 8 inches deep), they will begin to emerge, depending on where you are located, sometime in May or early June.
Celebrate this interesting event with the Crazy for Cicadas programs on June 17th at 10:00 am (ages 3-7) and at 3:00pm (ages 7-12).
To learn more about cicadas, check out some of these buzzing reads!
- Cicadas by Christina Leaf
- Cicada’s Song by Ariane O’Pry Trammel
- Cicadas by Linda Buellis
- A Periodical Cicada’s Life by Ellen Lawrence
- Cicadas!: Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle
