Cicada Watch: Why are some places buzzing while others are silent?

CHICAGO — They’re emerging. Some are flying . And in many places, the buzzing is already very, very loud.

But other areas around Chicagoland are free of the buzzing and clicking.

Why is that?

Marianne Alleyne, an assistant professor in entomology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explains it this way:

“It takes a few days, maybe a week, for the adult cicadas to start making noise (their exoskeleton needs to harden completely). So eventually all the places where cicadas emerged will hear the noise. Because emergences didn’t happen all in the same night not all areas will start hearing the sound at the same time. But it will happen soon enough.”

So, basically: stay tuned.

The emergence of billions of buzzing, clicking cicadas is underway . In northern Illinois, we’re seeing the Brood XIII of periodical cicadas that were born in 2007. Another variety, Brood XIX, is emerging in central and southern parts of the state. Thomas Jefferson was president when the two broods last emerged together in 1803.

WGN has what you should know about cicadas and your home , your kids , your pets , and your garden .

• Which states are seeing them?
• Cicada Trivia: Interesting, bizarre facts
• Cicadas: When are they the loudest?
• Beware: Cicadas could pee on you
• Hungry? There’s a whole cicada cookbook
• Thirsty? How about a cicada-infused Malört shot?
• Cicada myths debunked
• Cicada life cycle, explained
• Win cash in a cicada photo contest
• Museum: Celebrating Cicadas exhibit
• When will they leave?
• Boy, 4, finds rare blue-eyed cicada
• They’re flying! Millions of cicadas take flight in Western Springs
• Why are some places buzzing and others silent?

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