The current emergence of 13- and 17-year cicadas in the United States is a unique occurrence that has not been seen in centuries. This event, which last took place in 1803, will not happen again for another 221 years. It involves two different hatches of cicadas emerging from below the ground simultaneously.
The noisy bugs above ground have been causing quite a racket, with some South Carolina residents even calling the police to complain about the sounds. Cicadas enthusiast Dennis Higgins from Illinois described the cacophony as reminiscent of a science fiction movie from the 1950s, with the sounds going up and down in intensity.
North America is home to seven species of periodical cicadas, with three spending 17 years underground and the rest spending 13 years there. Parts of Illinois are expected to experience a significant population of these cicadas as the two broods emerge together to mate and die. This once-in-a-lifetime event has captured the attention of many and is a fascinating natural phenomenon.
