Chapter 1: The Cicada Invasion

Prepare yourself for an epic clash of cicadas! In 2024, the Southeastern United States will witness the emergence of Brood XIX, while Midwesterners will face Brood XIII, both returning after a long slumber of 17 years. This summer, the convergence of these two broods, totaling in the billions, promises a cacophony of noise and chaos.

These insects have been preparing underground since the days of President Bush the Second, plotting their grand return. What is their plan, you ask? Well, brace yourselves.

Section 1.1: The Cicada Symphony

While some may romanticize the cicada's song, the reality is far less poetic. The sounds they produce can be described as:

A.) A relentless buzz saw

B.) An incessant maraca shake

C.) A techno beat that burrows into your brain, leaving you a frazzled mess

D.) All of the above

Though often mistaken for locusts, cicadas belong to a different family. Their large, bulbous eyes are a sight to behold.

Subsection 1.1.1: A Personal Encounter

Having grown up sheltered from these creatures, I first encountered them in the late '90s while working at a charming Southern college. An oak tree outside my office provided a front-row seat to the cicada frenzy, where I witnessed both their mating rituals and the devastation they left behind.

Once they emerge, cicadas climb trees and transform, shedding their nymph shells. Their main focus during this brief adult phase is mating, and the incessant drone of males calling to females can be overwhelming. They produce this sound by vibrating their bodies or rubbing their wings together in a loud, synchronized chorus.

Section 1.2: The Aftermath

After mating, the female cicada lays her eggs in tree bark. The aftermath is grim; the scent of numerous dead cicadas is almost unbearable, and the crunch of their discarded shells underfoot is a chilling reminder of their chaos.

My husband once found himself cornered in the kitchen with just one cicada, creating a scene reminiscent of his reactions to more serious threats. If one cicada is bad, imagine the horror of facing billions!

Chapter 2: The Epic Cicadapocalypse

With the return of these broods, Indiana and Illinois are poised to be at the epicenter of this invasion. The last time these two broods converged was during Napoleon’s campaign in Austria. Coincidence? I think not.

The video showcases the chaotic emergence of cicadas, offering a glimpse into their world as they invade our summer landscape.

The eggs laid by female cicadas will hatch and drop back into the soil, where they will mature for another cycle. The next time these broods will reunite is in 2245, leaving future generations to contend with the legacy of this Cicadapocalypse.

Thank you to Susan Brearley and Andrew Rodwin for their contributions to this piece. May you escape the wrath of the cicadas!

Brand art by David Todd McCarty