D3132: The 2021 emergence of Brood X periodical cicadas in Georgia, USA

The emergence of Brood X periodical cicadas is arguably the premiere entomological event in the United States. These cicadas have a long history in American culture, and have become a pop culture phenomenon in 2021. Here, we report the phenology, distribution, density, and species makeup of Brood X periodical cicadas in Georgia, US. We used reports of sightings on social media, communication with the public, and our own searches to determine the geographic range in Georgia and timing of biological events. We also sampled repeatedly at a limited number of locations in Lumpkin, Union, and Gilmer counties. We used both adults and exuviae to determine the species makeup at those locations, and also collected dead adults to further investigate the timing of the emergence and fate of dead cicadas. The first Brood X adult was photographed on April 26 in Lumpkin county, and Magicicada septendecim is the most common species. We compared our findings to the 2004 emergence to improve understanding of the Brood X emergence in Georgia. Georgia represents the southern edge of Brood X’s range, and our findings can contribute to the story of Brood X’s 2021 emergence in the US and inform further research in 2038.