NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - This spring, two different broods of cicadas — one that lives on a 13-year cycle and the other that lives on a 17-year cycle — will emerge at the same time from underground in a rare, synchronized event that hasn’t happened in over two centuries.
Billions of the winged insects will make an appearance across the Midwest and the Southeast, beginning as early as late April. Typically, they emerge in mid-May to early June. Some stick around through July, too. Cicadas typically surface in the spring once the soil reaches a temperature of around 64°F.
These types of cicadas are periodical insects that spend most of their lives underground feeding on tree roots. After 13 years or 17 years, depending on their brood, the cicadas will tunnel to the surface to reach maturity and engage in a month-long mating season. Cicadas are well known for their noisy mating-- emitting a high-pitched chirping or buzzing sound.
While most of Tennessee is likely to see-- or at least hear-- them, it appears that Middle Tennessee will see the most, according to Cicada Safari.
These bugs are harmless to humans, but they can be scary-looking, especially when they shed their caucuses on the ground and on trees.
This is quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime event. The last time the two types of cicadas emerged at the same time occurred in 1803. Experts say it won’t happen again for another 221 years.
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