In the eastern half of the U.S., a rare emergence of both 13-year and 17-year periodical cicadas will begin as early as late April, and eastern Oklahoma will notice the abundant, loud insects. Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to talk with Wyatt Hoback, a professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology about this unique event and what people in eastern Oklahoma should know prior.
Hoback explained that there are two different types of periodical cicadas: 13-year periodical cicadas and 17-year periodical cicadas.
“They are named that because it takes 13 years or 17 years of living under ground before these cicadas will come to the surface and fly around, make noise, and be adult cicadas,” Hoback said. “They are different than the normal cicadas that people see which come out in August. Those are called annual or dog day cicadas. They come out every single year in lower numbers, and they show up in August versus the periodical cicadas that show up in May or June.”
This year, eastern Oklahoma will be seeing the 13-year periodical cicadas, which last emerged in 2011. Hoback said the cicadas will be around for close to three weeks after emergence, then they will not be seen again for 13 more years.
“Oklahoma also has a 17-year cicada, but it is not coming out this year,” Hoback said. “The next time that one will come out will be 2032.”
The 17-year cicada emergence that will occur in 2032 will be much larger across the state of Oklahoma, as opposed to the 13-year emergence that will happen this year, which will only be in eastern Oklahoma.
“Nationally, these cicadas come out in about 30 states total,” Hoback said. “In Illinois, both the 13 and the 17-year cicadas are coming out at the same time. That is what makes it unusual.”
The next time the 13 and 17-year cicadas will be out at the same time is in 2070, Hoback added. Hoback also said that cicadas are not to be confused with locusts, as a locust is a type of grasshopper.
“Cicadas are insects that feed by drinking through a straw, so they actually drink plant juice, and they don’t cause any harm to our plants or to our crops,” Hoback said. “The adults don’t hardly feed at all.”
When a cicada brood emerges, Hoback said in a localized area there can be millions. Hoback added the male cicadas are the ones that make the loud singing noise.
“The adults will only live for two or three weeks, so this period of cicadas will go away fast,” Hoback said. “While they are out, they are really good food sources for a lot of animals. Everything from birds, turkeys, even deer and racoons.”
Overall, Hoback said the cicadas are very beneficial for the environment and will not cause harm. Similar to the solar eclipse coming up on April 8th, Hoback said the only preparation to be made is to go where the emergence will happen for those who want to see it.
“People should know that these cicadas are just plant feeders, so they don’t feed on humans or animals,” Hoback said. “They can’t cause any harm at all. They are just a really neat organism that comes out in mass numbers, and it is pretty special that 2024 has a double brood emergence.”
