Billions of Cicada in Michigan
Image from Flickr by Monkeystyle3000
Spring in Michigan means fluctuating weather, rainy afternoons, and apparently – the vast emergence of a 17-year brood of cicadas. Add in another 13-year brood, and Michigan is in for quite a loud spring. Cicadas in Michigan will soon be here.
Synchronized Cicada Awakening
Billion (yes, billions) of cicadas are expected to emerge in Michigan this spring, in an event that’s not happened since 1803. Two large broods of cicadas, who have been underground for 13 and 17 years, will synchronize and come up this spring.
The first brood, Brood XIII, or the Northern Illinois Brood, has been underground for 17 years. The second brood, set to arise at the same time, is referred to as Brood XIX or the Great Southern Brood.
The tunneling begins as the soil temperature warms up, likely sometime around May.
A Loud Spring
What can Michiganders expect? Loud noises. Some (mostly pest enthusiasts) have referred to the combined brood emergences as the Mardi Gras of insects.
Cicadas are one of the pests that have been around the longest, with a history that dates back over 1.8 million years. Another interesting fact about cicadas – the noises you hear only come from the male cicadas.
Where in Michigan Will the Cicadas Be?
It’s not certain yet where we can expect the cicada to emerge. However, previous cicada colonies have been found in Oakland, Livingston, Genesee, and Washtenaw Counties.
While the 17-year brood will be primarily in Michigan and parts of Iowa, the 13-year brood is expected to come out in multiple states, including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.
Pest Control Services in Livonia MI
The good news is that, other than being loud and slightly unsettling, cicadas don’t typically cause any problems. In fact, their primary purpose of coming out is to breed and multiply to protect the race – a strategy that has worked for them. Then, the majority of the brood is gone within four to six weeks, meaning by July 1, we can shift our focus to the pesky mosquitoes and ants.
However, Michigan’s spring does bring out spiders, ants, bees, and moths. So before you break out the search for “Pest control near me,” consider Solidified Pest Control for all your spring pest control needs. We offer pest control services all throughout Livonia, Michigan, and Metro Detroit. As one of the premier pest control services Livionia residents trust, we’re proud to put our customers first.