Last year, 2024, was also particularly active for cicadas, in North America, because two broods emerged at the same time, 13-year and 17-year broods emerged at the same time.
I think it's interesting that only American cicadas use prime numbers in this way. South African, and other cicadas, emerge most years. We called them 'Christmas Beetles' from the time of year they emerged.
We had beautifully harmonious cicadas most years in our garden in Pietermaritzburg.
Often in mid-January, in the heat, there'd be a number of cicadas in different trees singing at the same time, which created an hypnotic beat-frequency, like a stereo record, seeming to sweep backwards and forwards around the garden.
It was the perfect accompaniment to a soft, hot morning, sometimes punctuated by lawn mowers in the distance, or the sound of water sprayed from a hose.
https://www.citizen.co.za/southlands-sun/news-headlines/local-news/2023/03/06/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-life-cycle-of-cicadas/
