Cicadas

Periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) are different from the more familiar ‘annual’ cicadas that emerge later in the summer. The development of Periodical cicadas is synchronized, while that of ‘annual’ cicadas’ is not. Almost all periodical cicadas grow and mature into adults at the same time, which is why we witness such huge groups of them every 17 or 13 years.

Specific groups of periodical cicadas are called “Broods.” Entomologists have devised a chart that documents the emergence of these groups. There are twelve “Broods” that appear in the northeastern part of the United States in different years. This year, the lucky area is Brood X. Brood X refers to certain parts of fifteen states (DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, WVA) and Washington DC. These states will witness the emergence of the 17-year periodical cicadas sometime around May or June of 2004.