Billions of cicadas emerging in 2024 will be loud and mostly harmless

ST. LOUIS — Several different broods of cicadas are expected to emerge from the ground soon, an event that has not occurred in over 200 years. Jay Everitt from Rottler Pest Solutions, explains that cicadas typically remain above ground for about six weeks after emerging as larvae. They climb up tree bases, where they mature into adults, mate, and lay eggs before the cycle begins anew.

Cicadas are known for their loud mating calls and large numbers, potentially in the millions or billions. While they can slightly damage young saplings by laying eggs in the branches, they generally do not cause significant harm to trees or other plants.

The noise and sheer number of cicadas are the main concerns. There are no effective pest control measures due to their vast numbers, and the event is seen as a natural phenomenon that will be quite noisy but otherwise harmless to the ecosystem. Everitt advises that there’s not much that can be done except to prepare for the noise and appreciate this natural occurrence.

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