02.19.2024

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Sunrise 7:32 a.m. | Sunset 6:25 p.m.
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🪲 The cicadas are coming

Everything you need to know about the 2024 cicada super brood

Dozens of cicadas sit on the branch of a tree

Cicadas prefer oaks, willows, maples, and ash trees. | Photo via Gene Kritsky

Are you ready for swarms of cicadas to take over a 16-state area?

It’s rare, but occasionally two broods emerge at the same time. Brood XIII (comprising cicadas that emerge every 17 years) and Brood XIX (13-year cicadas) will both reproduce this spring.

Did you know? The last time Broods XIII and XIX emerged simultaneously was 1803.

Enter: the super brood

Does this mean the two broods can reproduce with each other? Will that result in even more cicadas during their next emergences?

We spoke to Dr. Gene Kritsky, a cicada expert at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, to find out. He let us know that since “the broods do not have a wide area of overlap” it is unlikely that they will reproduce with each other. However, he noted, “If there was an overlap, it could satiate the predators more quickly, resulting in generally more offspring from each brood.”

What this means

The good news? While it is possible for overlap to occur near our city, it’s unlikely we’ll see more cicadas due to the super brood.

However, Brood XIX is coming. Cicadas usually emerge when the soil hits 64 degrees. Currently, our 5-day average soil temperature is at ~38 degrees.

In other words, we’re close to the event these cicadas have been waiting over a decade for.

The Cicada Safari map shows 15 sightings in Indianapolis, IN and 10 in Louisville, KY — Watch out, INDY, the cicadas are coming for you too.
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Screenshot via Cicada Safari courtesy of Gene Kritsky

How you can help

Cicada Safari needs you to track cicada spottings. Mapping cicadas helps experts understand when broods may emerge. Per Dr. Kritsky, it also led to a discovery “that some 17-year cicadas can emerge four years early and may form a new brood.”

Download the free app to track cicada spottings and submit your own photos.

Look for cicadas where there are trees, full sun, and low vegetation. Think: White River State Park and Parks and Crown Hill Cemetery.

Asked

How often do cicadas emerge to mate?

A. Every 221 years
B. Every 17 years
C. Every 13 years
D. It depends on the brood

Learn something new today? Prove it.

Events

Monday, Feb. 19

Indy Library Store Book Sale | Monday, Feb. 19 | 12-7 p.m. | Library Services Center, 2450 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | You can buy used and like-new books at discount prices with proceeds supporting library programs.
Cocktail Crafting Chronicles: A Mixology Masterclass Series | Monday, Feb. 19 | 3:30-5 p.m. | The Cannon Ball Lounge, 141 E. Washington St., Indianapolis | $50 | Become a mixology expert at this hands-on class for both newbies and seasoned enthusiasts.

Tuesday, Feb. 20

Tomorrow Talks: Katherine Yeske Taylor | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 7-9 p.m. | Tomorrow Bookstore, 882 Mass Ave., Indianapolis | $10-$45 | Hear from Katherine Yeske Taylor, music journalist and author of “She’s a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism.”

Wednesday, Feb. 21

$5 Pints & Comedy Open Mic Night | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 7-10 p.m. | Fountain Square Brewing, 1301 Barth Ave., Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | Grab a $5 pint and workshop your jokes or sit in the audience + laugh along.

Thursday, Feb. 22

Indiana Pacers vs. Detroit Pistons | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 7 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | $11+ | Cheer on the Pacers in their first game back from the All-Star break.

Friday, Feb. 23

“Margaret Cho: Live and LIVID!” | Friday, Feb. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis | $53-$109 | Celebrate Margaret Cho’s 40 years as a stand-up comedian on this tour.
“The Emo Night Tour” | Friday, Feb. 23 | 8 p.m. | The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N. College Ave., Indianapolis | $18 | Get ready for an angsty night of Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, My Chemical Romance, and more.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Indianapolis received high praise for its NBA All-Star Weekend planning. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that our city’s planning for the event was “unprecedented” and that “the hospitality is terrific.” But we already knew that. (WTHR)

Opening

Confectionary and ice cream chain Kilwins plans to open a second central Indiana location in Fishers. The shop is expected to open this fall at The Yard at Fishers District. (IBJ)

Read

Picture this: a bar crawl, but ditching the booze and adding the books. Tomorrow Bookstore will host the first Indy Indie Book Crawl Thursday, March 21-Sunday, March 24 with 17 participating stores throughout the area.

Sports

In case you missed it, several Pacers played leading roles at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. Go beyond the scoreboard for the biggest stories on the Pacers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Health

Planned Parenthood announced that it will begin offering vasectomies in Indianapolis. Some sites in Hammond, Mishawaka, and Fort Wayne have already begun offering the procedure, and the Georgetown Road facility will start in late March. (IndyStar)

History

A statue of Hoosier basketball star Oscar Robertson is planned for Crispus Attucks High School. The statue was commissioned by the NBA in partnership with the Pacers to recognize Robertson’s legacy, including being the first Indiana high school player to become an NBA All-Star. (WTHR)

Watch

Did you watch last night’s season premiere of “American Idol”? If so, you may have spotted 19-year-old Carmel resident Meggie Iyer. She has been training to be on the show for ~4 years and auditioned to get in front of the judges twice before. (WRTV)

Sports

Calling all football fans: You’re invited to watch top NFL prospects showcase their skills at the Combine Experience, happening Thursday, Feb. 29-Sunday, March 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Peep the full schedule of events and snag tickets.*

Holiday

Celebrating Presidents Day the INDY way

Celebrating Presidents Day with Indianapolis history

Inside President Benjamin Harrison's house

How cool is this — you can walk through the home of a former US president right here in downtown Indianapolis. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Did you know that only one US President has been elected from Indiana? (Though technically, that man’s grandfather — another former US president — had ties to the Indiana Territory in the early 1800s.)

In case you haven’t guessed it, we’re talking about Benjamin Harrison: former Indianapolis resident and the 23rd president of the United States.

Oh, and his grandfather? William Henry Harrison.

Though Harrison was born in Ohio, in 1854 he and his wife Caroline Scott made the move to Indianapolis, where he served as City Attorney and Supreme Court Reporter before eventually being elected president.

Now, Hoosiers can visit the president’s former home on North Delaware Street. On Presidents Day, the home becomes a scene from 1891, with live actors and tours of the house in an interactive experience.

Bonus: Looking for another way to celebrate? Usually closed on Mondays, the Indiana State Museum will open to visitors for free on Presidents Day.

The Buy

The Buy 2.19.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A stylish new collar or leash from Six & Main’s collection for your dog to sport during their favorite time of day (walk time).

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Brianna

From the editor

Hey, INDY. Truthfully, I don’t find cicadas all that anxiety-inducing, but some of my coworkers feel differently. If you hate creepy crawlies too, consider this an official apology for the first image in today’s newsletter. 😅

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