ST. LOUIS – As cicadas continue to swarm the St. Louis region and much of the United States, you may notice a unique tribute to them on your Google search engine.
Wednesday’s Google Doodle celebrates two broods of cicadas that have simultaneously emerged at the same time. It’s a rare occurrence that scientists know as a “cicada-geddon” or double brood event.
What is a cicada-geddon? This happens when two unique broods, in this case Brood XIII and Brood XIX, emerge from underground and exist above ground at the same time.
Brood XIII cicadas spend their first 17 years underground before their emergence. Brood XIX cicadas spend their first 13 years underground before their emergence. The chances that both broods swarm in full force at the same time? Once every 221 years.
Experts say the cicadas only spend around five to seven of their weeks above ground before they die. While above ground, cicadas make loud noises in efforts to attract mates. A male and female cicada typically only mate once, and the female will lay eggs in branches of trees.
The Google Doodle features four animated cicadas as part of a musical band, representing both Brood XIII and Brood XIX. The cicadas are singing, or performing music, as their noises resonate to such sounds in real life.
