After the unprecedented rustling of summer 2024, when massive swarms of cicadas flooded orchards, parks, and yards in Illinois, residents of the state naturally ask: will the buzzing guests return this year?
Experts provide a cautiously reassuring answer: for Illinois — most likely not. But neighboring regions in the Midwest, including Indiana, should prepare for a new invasion.
According to the University of Connecticut, an interactive map tracking the appearance of periodical cicadas indicates that this summer will feature the emergence of the so-called Brood XIV — the second-largest periodical cicada brood in North America. Its range mostly covers southern Indiana, including the area around Huzier National Forest, and crosses into Kentucky.
On the real-time updating map, bright icons mark locations where the first individuals have been observed, while red contour circles indicate potential areas of their appearance.
Population outbreaks are also expected to affect other states — from Ohio to Missouri and further southeast. Compared to the extravagance of last year in Illinois, this invasion will be localized, but no less impressive for those who encounter it.
Periodical cicadas, known for their mysterious biology, emerge from underground every 13 or 17 years, depending on the species, and synchronously fill the space with a loud chorus that can reach 100 decibels — louder than a lawnmower or the roar of an airplane on a runway.
Last summer, Illinois became the stage of a unique natural spectacle: for the first time in over two centuries, Broods XIX and XIII coincided, creating a rare "double invasion" seen only in specific regions of the state.
Although this year Illinois is likely to miss a large debut, scientists warn that in 2037, the state can again expect a major wave of broods.
Meanwhile, for curious residents of the South or Midwest, the university map remains an indispensable guide for those who want to observe one of the oldest natural rituals — the emergence of insects that have spent years hiding in silence beneath our feet.
