Cicada-mania has been building to almost mythical levels in 2024. Nearly every story on my news feed references this historic event about to occur in Illinois. Despite the media frenzy, there are still lots of questions about the upcoming cicada emergence. So, I might as well hop on this cicada train with some common questions about periodical cicadas.

Before you read any further, my colleague, Ken Johnson, covered this topic in detail in a recent article. Essentially, everything you’re about to read is taken from Ken’s article. I’m only pulling on a few bits of information based on the questions we have been getting at the Extension office. If you want to read Ken’s excellent article, find it at go.Illinois.edu/cicada.

Two broods are emerging at the same time. Does that mean double the cicadas?

Not really. Don’t get me wrong, there will still be a lot of cicadas. An estimated 1.5 million per acre in ideal habitat locations. However, despite the dual emergence, the broods are unlikely to overlap. The area where they are expected to overlap is Sangamon County. Congratulations Springfield! Other counties where both broods are present are Logan, Macon, and Livingston. What is impressive about this event is the sheer geography that will be covered by these two broods.

1.5 million cicadas per acre! Will we be under a blanket of bugs this spring?

Brood XIII cicadas have been underground for 17 years. Brood XIX has been underground for 13 years. The entire time these cicada larvae have been underground they are feeding on tree roots. If that area didn’t have trees at the time when the cicadas were out the last time laying eggs 17 and 13 years ago, you may have far fewer cicadas than other locations. This may be common in neighborhoods that have been clear-cut for development or large fields and pastures with few to no trees.

The density of cicadas will vary. It is likely to find higher-density pockets in forested areas or neighborhoods with a developed tree canopy. But even in these areas, the density will fluctuate.

When will the cicadas emerge?

We expect to see the first cicadas show up around mid-May. Once the soil warms in the spring to 64°F at 8 inches deep they will surface, shed their exoskeleton into their adult form, and start singing. Because their appearance is temperature-dependent this can change slightly based on the weather, but eight inches down is fairly insulated from the hot to cold swings we often encounter in spring. Regardless, of exact timing you will know they are out when you hear them singing. 

Cicadas “sing?” How loud are we talking?

Male cicadas will start singing a few days after they begin to emerge to attract females. In the pockets of dense cicadas it will get very loud. Up to 90 decibels loud. That would be like standing next to a gas-powered lawn mower. People walking through the woods wouldn’t be able to hear each other talking, even if they were side-by-side.

Are periodical cicadas going to kill my trees? What can I do to stop them?

This is perhaps the most common question I have received. Female cicadas have a saw-like ovipositor that cuts slits in small tree branches to lay her eggs. The female is attracted to branches less than an inch in diameter for egg-laying. Our larger trees will be fine. They may lose their branch tips, but it won’t be enough to hurt the tree. The trees at risk are our smaller newly planted trees where most of the branches (and maybe even the trunk) is conducive to egg laying. And when you get 1 million cicadas making tiny cuts on your baby tree, that can add up to major damage and even death to the plant.

It is not recommended to spray your trees with any insecticide. Instead, the best defense for a homeowner is to use physical exclusion. Wrap your young trees in insect netting with a mesh size of a ¼-inch or less, and tie the netting to the base of the trunk to prevent the cicadas from crawling up the trunk and laying their eggs. Your tree will look like a giant ice cream cone. It may be helpful to build a frame around the plants, cicadas may still be able to lay eggs on branches that are touching the netting.

Can you eat cicadas?

As Ken would say, "You can eat anything." Native Americans did utilize cicadas as part of their diet at times. They are not toxic, however, if you have a shellfish allergy it is recommended to not eat cicadas (or most insects for that matter). Also, avoid collecting cicadas in areas that have experienced frequent pesticide use. Because periodical cicadas have a long life span they may bio-accumulate chemicals in their bodies. Try to collect from forested areas buffered from development or ag use. And yes, there are cicada recipes and entire cookbooks on how to prepare these crunchy munchy bugs. As for flavor, I'll leave that up to you to determine.

What should I do about all these cicadas?

Observe them. Recognize you live on a pretty neat planet. And enjoy the show.

Want more cicada information?

The Good Growing Podcast will be posting more cicada content in April and May. You can find us on any major podcast app.

Good Growing Tip of the Week: To wrap your trees you can use insect netting, row cover fabric, or tulle fabric. Tulle is commonly found at craft stores but can easily tear allowing cicadas to access your tree. Insect netting and row cover are more durable but often need to be ordered online.