(STILLWATER, Oklahoma, March. 27, 2024) – A rare emergence of both 13-year and 17-year periodical cicadas will begin as early as late April in the eastern half of the U.S., and eastern Oklahoma will notice the abundant, loud insects.

Millions of 13-year Brood XIX cicadas are expected to break through the soil and appear above ground to mate in far eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, southern Illinois and several southern states. After hatching and burrowing into the ground, they have survived on tree sap for the past 13 years. Similarly, the 17-year Brood XIII cicadas that hatched in 2007 will emerge this spring and summer in northern Illinois and parts of eastern Iowa.

Wyatt Hoback — Professor in the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Ferguson College of Agriculture, is available to answer the following questions regarding this year’s cicada emergence:

• Cicada life cycles.
• How this year’s emergence will affect Oklahoma.
• If cicadas cause harm to humans or animals.
• The potential damage cicadas cause to trees and landscapes.
• How mass cicada mating seasons affect other insect populations.
• Cicada excretion research and the science of fluid dynamics.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Ellis | Office of Communications & Marketing, OSU Agriculture | 405-744-9152 | gail.ellis@okstate.edu

OSU Agriculture is dedicated to improving the quality of life of Oklahomans through science-based information and education. It is comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Ag Research and OSU Extension.