Rare Synchronized Emergence of Cicada Broods Stuns Eastern US

Two major cicada broods, on 13- and 17-year cycles, emerge simultaneously for the first time in over 220 years.

Cicadas stay underground for years, emerging en masse to overwhelm predators.
This year, Brood XIII and Brood XIX are emerging together, covering a vast geographic area.
Cicadas use evaporative cooling to stay active during the hottest parts of the day.
Male cicadas produce loud mating calls, using specialized structures for sound amplification.
Cicadas face threats from predators like the cicada killer wasp and fungal infections.