221 years later, these periodical cicadas will reappear. Two types will emerge together

Summer nights are going to be a bit louder this year. In fact, thanks to cicadas, some states across the United States will have the noisiest summer in 221 years.

For this first time since 1803, two types of cicada broods are set to emerge in the spring of 2024 in 19 states across the Southeast and Midwest, around the same time, according to Cicada Mania.

These cicadas broods are not common in New Jersey unlike the Brood X, which emerged in the Garden State in 2021, so we are safe for until 2030.

This is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime event, when both Brood XIX returns to the surface after 13 years and Brood XIII after 17 years. They will shed their exoskeletons and transform from wingless nymphs into adults.

And according to sciencealert.com, this synchronizing emergence won't happen again until 2245.

What are cicadas?

Periodical cicadas are grouped into geographic broods based on the calendar year they emerge and are assigned a Roman numeral. In 1898 30 different broods were discovered: 17 with a 17-year life cycle and 13 with a 13-year life cycle, according to NorthJersey.com

Once they hatch they burrow underground, where different broods like Brood XIXwill dwell for 13 years and Brood XIII will dwell for 17 years until they reappear as adults.

Why are they called broods?

All periodical cicadas of the same life cycle that emerge in the same year are known collectively as a single “brood” (or “year-class”). They emerge on a common schedule, according to Uconn.edu.

Why are cicadas so loud?

Sounds that are similar to sirens or cat-calling is they way the males attract the females cicadas. According to britannica.com, the clicking sound we hear at night that can be soothing or annoying is the when the male cicadas produces a sound from their tymbal organ. The frequency of the contractions of the tymbal muscle range from 120 to 480 times a second, which is fast enough to make it sound continuous to the human ear.

These are the congregational songs, in which males synchronize their calls that establish territory and attract females. The broods that produced the loudest songs are periodical ones that are emerging this year.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Cicadas invasion 2024: two periodical cicadas will reappear this summer