The Pathogen Has Been Referred to as a Horror Movie
The pathogen is Massospora cicadina. The New York Post has referred to it as a “horror-movie style fungal pathogen.”
Source: Dan Keck/YouTube
Residents of various states in the US will be subject to these hyper-horny cicadas, which will see the bugs rising up from the ground in mass numbers.
The Southeast and Midwest Will Be Affected
Those based in states in the Southeast and Midwest are currently the only areas of the US that are set to be affected by this infestation.
Source: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team/Wikimedia Commons
States that are likely to be affected include Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Two Species of Cicadas Will Pop up Throughout Spring
According to the New York Post, the two species of cicadas that are set to arise are known as brood XIX and brood XIII.
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Brood XIX will affect areas including Alabama and South Carolina, while brood XIII will affect Illinois and Michigan.
The First Time in 221 Years
While brood XIX and brood XIII have been around for years, it is uncommon for two different broods of cicadas to come up from underground simultaneously.
Source: Brian Stansberry/Wikimedia Commons
The last time this happened was in 1803, so while it might sound scary, it is set to be incredible to be the first generation in hundreds of years to witness it.
Cicadas Live Underground for 13 and 17 Years
Unlike other creatures, AP News states that cicadas can live underground for 13 and 17 years, depending on the brood.
Source: G. Edward Johnson/Wikimedia Commons
This is why the two broods have taken hundreds of years to come up simultaneously.
Cicadas Are Unlikely To Cause Much Damage
As trillions of cicadas are likely to come up from underground, some may be worried that they will cause significant damage to the areas they inhabit.
Source: Kurt Kaiser/Wikimedia Commons
However, AP News assures that young trees and fruit crops will only suffer slight damage, but this can be prevented.
Cicadas Emerge at 64 Degrees Fahrenheit
Cicadas only tend to emerge from underground when the temperature reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Source: The Great Knife/Wikimedia Commons
Due to climate change, this happens earlier in the year than it used to, which is why the cicadas are set to emerge throughout spring.
Cicadas Can Make 105 Decibels of Noise
Due to the number of cicadas that are set to emerge, they are expected to make up to 105 decibels of noise.
Source: @Warg_33/X
The Hearing Center of Excellence says this is roughly equivalent to a bulldozer, impact wrench, or motorcycle for how loud they will be.
Quadrillions of Cicadas Could Make an Appearance
The Daily News reports that there is set to be one million cicadas per acre.
Source: DW News/YouTube
Due to the area they are set to cover, this could mean trillions, possibly even quadrillions of cicadas will appear.
Possibility of Extinction
Due to the sheer amount of cicadas set to overtake parts of the US, there is some talk as to whether it would be possible for them to become extinct.
Source: Bruce Marlin/Wikimedia Commons
While it is unlikely for the time being, Cicada Mania reports that several cicada broods have already become extinct, including brood XI and brood XXI, with the next brood likely to become extinct being brood VII.
The Larger Cicadas Broods Will Emerge in 2076
This won’t be the last time something like this happens, as an even larger presence of cicadas is set to emerge in 2076.
Source: David C. Marshall/Wikimedia Commons
Broods XIX and XIV are the two largest broods of cicadas, so they will likely cause much more chaos when they eventually emerge in the next few decades.