04/30/2024
EDUCATION:
13 Georgia Counties Are Expected to See Brood XIX Cicadas This Year
With temperatures heating back up, the typical sights, smells, and sounds of spring are returning once again. But this year, one familiar sound—the buzz of cicadas—may be more prominent than usual.
This year marks a rare convergence as two significant cicada broods—the 13-year Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII—emerge simultaneously, an event occurring only once every 221 years. These broods are examples of periodical cicadas, which synchronize their development and emerge in unison every 13 or 17 years, contrasting with annual cicadas that emerge yearly. And given the scope of this year’s periodical broods—Brood XIX is the largest by geographic reach and Brood XIII is the largest in size—2024 will bring a once-in-a-lifetime level of cicada activity to the U.S.
Despite the anticipation surrounding this event, there's little cause for concern. Cicadas are benign creatures, posing minimal threat as they neither bite nor sting, and they largely abstain from consuming garden plants or crops. On the contrary, cicadas provide a host of ecological benefits by aerating soil and serving as a crucial food source for various animals. Interestingly, cicada hatches also create a boon for fishing enthusiasts. The large number of cicadas that emerge during hatches provide excellent feeding opportunities for fish, attracting them in large numbers to the water's surface. This abundance of prey leads to exceptional fishing, with anglers often enjoying heightened catch rates and larger fish sizes during cicada hatches.