Late spring and early summer in the forests of the eastern U.S. have been eerily quiet for the past two years, with the absence of long-lived periodical cicadas. But this year, they are roaring back with two separate batches of cicadas emerging across the region. These cicadas have an unusual lifecycle, only emerging for mating and egg-laying once every 13 or 17 years. The U.S. is home to seven different species of periodical cicadas, and this year all seven will make an appearance, making for an exciting event for science enthusiasts. The phenomenon of cicadas has shaped forest ecosystems for millions of years, and won’t happen again until 2037 when two broods emerge simultaneously.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-double-brood-of-periodical-cicadas-will-emerge-in-2024/