Here’s what will happen when billions of cicadas emerge this spring

Two types of periodical cicadas are set to co-emerge between late April and early June this year. According to David Beresford, an entomology professor at Trent University, this is a rare event that only happens once or twice in a lifetime. “It’s your chance to hear billions of cicadas sing in a large chorus,” he says. “It’s as big a deal as the solar eclipse.”

Why is this happening?

Two groups of periodical cicadas have been living underground and are ready to make their grand entrance now that their respective 13- and 17-year cycles are complete, says Beresford. Once the cicadas emerge, the male suitors serenade potential mates by vibrating a membrane on their bodies. Then, the females lay their eggs in tree slits. After six to seven weeks, the nymphs will fall into the soil and the adults will pass away, marking the beginning of a new cycle.

Beresford suggests that this one synchronized emergence is necessary for each species to thrive independently. Mathematically speaking, these brood cicadas were bound to co-emerge at some point, and it just so happens that 2024 is the year. “We haven’t seen such a large co-emergence since 1803, so it’ll be exciting to see this natural phenomenon,” he says.

It’s the rise of the cicadas! Is it time to hide out?

Most Canadians won’t have the chance to witness this natural phenomenon unless they happen to be in Wisconsin, Illinois, or Michigan. In fact, Beresford says that there’s no record of such a large emergence of these brood cicadas in Ontario’s history. And, for our American neighbours—don’t worry. He says they don’t sting and aren’t motivated to nibble unless provoked. All they really want to do is climb trees and serenade potential mates.

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And, for the rest of the cicada species in Ontario, Beresford explains that they will continue to emerge from their two-year cycles as per normal.

So, Ontario, or more specifically cottage country, won’t be affected at all?

While Beresford says it’s unlikely, you shouldn’t rule it out just yet—even though there haven’t been any major emergences in the past, it doesn’t mean there won’t be any in the future. “There’s a possibility that the cicadas migrate across the border and lay eggs,” he says. “It’s worth keeping an eye out if you live on the Michigan border, near Windsor, or along the shores of Lake Huron.”

What will the environmental impact be?

There are two types of environmental impacts—temporary and lasting. On a temporary scale, Beresford explains that there will be a lot of dead cicadas providing a highly nutritious feast for birds, reptiles, other insects, squirrels, and mice. “There will be a time of plenty, followed by a time of scarcity,” he says. Beresford and other entomologists hypothesize that this process is a clever trick on the cicadas’ part—by luring predators with an abundance of food, the cicada creates an illusion of plenty, only to disappear for many years. “They overwhelm them with a feast, only to retreat underground, making it difficult for predators to predict where their next meal is coming from.”

Where do all the bugs go when it rains?

Beresford says that as a result, this may lead to localized population decline. “With so much food, some predators like mice, may be incentivized to reproduce,” he says. “However, populations may decrease without the same food source the next year.”

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In the long term, he says there shouldn’t be a noticeable ripple. “Animal populations tend to acclimatize to boom and bust cycles more easily than humans and most of the animals won’t live until the next 13- or 17-year cicada cycle anyways.”

What are they doing underground for so long?

Underground, cicadas are thriving in their own protected paradise, where they live peacefully away from the elements and predators, enjoying the sweet sappy goodness from tree roots. “They basically are eating soda pop, preparing their bodies for when they are ready to mate above ground,” he says.

Cicadas are loud—surely, the sheer amount of noise will have some sort of an effect?

“Only if you don’t like the cicada’s song,” says Beresford. Just as we look forward to hearing toads or spring peepers, he says, this is another delightful natural phenomenon that we should look forward to and enjoy.

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