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This is the first co-emergence of these two broods since 1803,
researcher Katie Dana from the Illinois Natural History Survey
told Capitol News Illinois, making it a truly once-in-a-lifetime
event. Although each brood will appear in 2037 and 2041,
respectively, the 221-year-long cycle means the next time both
broods emerge at the same time will happen in 2245.
“I've heard reports of billions, I've heard reports of trillions
and honestly, I think it's somewhere in between those two,” she
said of the number of cicadas that will emerge. “But that's also
a huge range.”
That’s why researchers from the INHS are seeking the public’s
help to photograph and record the 13- and 17-year-old cicadas
they see with ecology apps such as iNaturalist or Cicada Safari.
Dana said she is “trying to engage with citizen scientists” to
help track the broods.
“If you look back at like 2011 or 2007, when these broods last
emerged, there (are) a lot of gaps in the mapping,” she said.
“Because it is really hard to get on the ground across the huge
range that these broods are going to be out.”
To see a video from The Morton Arboretum instructing how to net
young trees using tulle, a breathable fabric,
click here.
For more information from The Morton Arboretum on periodical
cicadas emerging,
click here.
Capitol News Illinois is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government.
It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV
stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press
Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with
major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation
and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
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