'Sexually transmitted zombie disease' infecting male cicadas in two broods emerging this year

While "trillions" of cicadas can be found in several southern and midwestern states across the country this year, according to USA Today, scientific experts say the state of Illinois is expected to see an "historic 2024 cicada emergence."

While the insects will be "emerging all over the state," as Illinois Natural History Survey's Catherine Dana told NBC Chicago last month, one particular region is seeing a different kind of occurrence.

WGNTV Chicago reports that male cicadas across the state's southern areas have been impacted by a sexually transmitted disease (STD) — a white fungus called Massospora cicadina — that turns the insects into "zombies" and causes their reproductive parts "to fall off."

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Per the report, the STD "is expected to reach the Chicago area within weeks."

WGN notes "the fungus is also the type that has hallucinatory effects on birds that would eat infected cicadas."

University of Connecticut entomologist John Cooley told the Independent, "At least 10% of cicadas in the Midwest were infected with the fungus."

He emphasized that "the issue is "even stranger than science fiction. This is a sexually transmitted zombie disease."

According to USA Today, "Two separate periodical cicada 'broods' will emerge simultaneously in 17 states this year," which "hasn't occurred in 221 years and won't happen again until 2245."

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Although the insects continue to swarm Illinois, and approximately ten other states, USA Today also notes "their lifespan is four to six weeks, and they will start to die off in late June."

WGNTV's full report is available at this link. USA Today's report is here.NBC Chicago's report is here. The Independent's report is here.