Rare Dual Emergence of Cicada Broods Transforms U.S. Ecosystems

Billions of cicadas from Broods XIX and XIII are surfacing simultaneously for the first time in over two centuries, offering a unique spectacle and ecological impact.

The simultaneous emergence of the 13-year and 17-year cicada cycles is reshaping food chains and boosting bird populations across the Midwest and Southeast.
Cicadas' mass appearance is a survival strategy, overwhelming predators and ensuring enough survive to reproduce.
This natural phenomenon is causing a temporary decrease in bird predation on other species, like caterpillars, leading to noticeable ecological shifts.
Researchers are intrigued by the possibility of interbreeding between the two broods, with results that won't be known for years.
After their death, cicada bodies enrich the soil, contributing to forest health and supporting a cycle of regrowth.