Brood II Cicadas to Swarm East Coast Spring 2013

There are several types of cicadas in the U.S.  Some arrive every year, others arrive every year but with huge population bursts occasionally, and others make a spectacular emergence after long hibernation cycles underground.  These long cycle cicadas are called periodical cicadas and most have 13 or 17 year cycles.  These long cycle, periodical, cicadas are the ones we number with brood designations.  There are several different broods in the United States but most mapping data is based on very old maps (early 1900s).  A few broods have apparently died out but there are mapping projects underway to attempt to map current distributions and schedules of remaining broods.

During an emergence you'll likely find the evidence of cicadas easier than live cicadas.  Cicadas emerge from the ground in nymph form, climb trees, and then shed their shell to emerge in adult form.  Trees will be dotted, and in some cases covered, with these small brown husks that the adult cicadas have left behind.

Adult cicadas are easier to find at night where they perch in trees to sing for a mate.  Take a flashlight and check trees and shrubs, you'll most likely find them easily during a large emergence.