Cicadas in Pennsylvania: What’s Happening Now?

The loud song of nature is not a lawn mower or even a swarm of locusts, but an announcement of something else – the Brood X cicadas. These cicadas only leave the house every 17 years and are expected to be part of the trillions that will grow, including Pennsylvania. While the sight can be overwhelming, don’t panic.

Locals in Pennsylvania may have already seen several cicadas in their homes and gardens, but Radio station 651 says the biggest changes will come this coming weekend May 22, 2021. With several observations already posted online, this year is going to be incredibly bustling and abundant here.

Pennsylvania is one of the many eastern states that are expected to have a large influx of population, but why are they showing up so early? After all, much of the Brood X isn’t even expected until the end of the month and early June. In accordance with Upper Moreland Patchthe increase in the number of cicadas in this area is largely due to the rise in temperature.

Before the cicadas can grow, the soil needs to warm up to 64 degrees, and temperatures in Pennsylvania have been rising lately. This increase in temperature has not been observed in many years, and cicadas use it to their advantage. In Pittsburgh, cicadas already appear more than two weeks earlier than in 1970, although the state as a whole sees them 22 days earlier.

Patriot, a local news outlet, tries to keep Pennsylvania residents up to date with the latest developments, although most of the public may not have even seen any of the Brood X cicadas yet. The publication recently published a very informative article that brings a lot of comfort to the locals. Even though cicadas can easily go up to billions, they won’t last long. However, the problem will not go away overnight. Brood X appears to emerge in waves, starting with the earliest group filled with males. Instead, the later groups will include women.