A big event in the insect world is approaching. Starting sometime in April or May, depending on latitude, one of the largest broods of 17-year cicadas will emerge from underground in a dozen states, from New York west to Illinois and south into northern Georgia. This group is known as Brood X, as in the Roman numeral for 10.
For about four weeks, wooded and suburban areas will ring with cicadas’ whistling and buzzing mating calls. After mating, each female will lay hundreds of eggs in pencil-sized tree branches.
Then the adult cicadas will die. Once the eggs hatch, new cicada nymphs fall from the trees and burrow back underground, starting the cycle again.
The Return of Cicadas Could Mean Copperheads Invading Your Yard
Ready or not, cicadas will be making a comeback soon. That could also lead to the possibility for copperheads invading your yard.
The Brood X Cicadas will be returning to Indiana after 17 years in late April or early May. They spend 16 - 17 years underground, then emerge for four to six weeks, lay their eggs and then they are gone again not to reemerge for another seventeen years. You ll see them climbing trees, bushes, fence post, anything that they can latch their claws into, and you ll definitely be hearing them as the males make that loud, familiar noise to attract females to mate.