Cicadas Illustrated: IL Residents Are Bugging Out

ILLINOIS — The cicada craze is in full effect in the state, with many quite excited, others completely disgusted, as the little insects are starting to invade everywhere. In a rare event that hasn’t happened since 1803, two broods — the 17-year cicadas in Brood XIII, known as the Northern Illinois Brood, and the 13-year cicadas in Brood XIX, or the Great Southern Brood — are emerging.

While billions of cicadas begin to surface in Illinois this spring, businesses are jumping on the trend with everything from cicada cupcakes to cicada-infused Malört.

Each week at Patch, we highlight local photos as part of our IL In Photos feature. After receiving dozens and dozens of cicada photos just this week, we've decided to do a cicada-only feature in addition to the weekly photos. Here are just a few of the many we've received.

Stephanie Pfeifer, of Lemont, submitted this photo of her nephew, Miley, 7, taken in her yard. She called her nephew a "cicada-loving boy" who enjoys bugs of all types.

Bob Tuzik sent in this photo he took of a cicada in Hometown, outside of Oak Lawn.

Mallory Simmons grabbed her camera when she saw her English bulldog, Chip, checking out a cicada that tried to interrupt his lounging time in Wheaton.

Amber Alstott, of Joliet, took this photo of a cicada in her yard. "They are starting to be everywhere," she told us.

Lynne Brozynski sent in this photo of her holding a cicada in Oak Forest.

Devin Grimes, of Western Springs, photographed this cicada on his back porch. He tells us, "I was outside watching all the different bugs emerging and finding space on our fence and backyard to freeze then molt out of the exoskeleton and I captured this little one, and it's just starting to "turn" color from its white state when it first comes out. Thought it was a cool point in the transition as well, as my porch light gave it a luminescent look."

Becky Werner found this cicada in some plants in Frankfort.

Gretel Hansen, of Lockport, sent in this cool cicada photo she took in her backyard.

Bob Ryan took this photo of Gail Ryan, of Chicago, holding a cicada in Chicago Ridge. She told us she "had to wear this awesome shirt."

Laura Seymour titled this one, "so long exoskeleton," and took it at the First Presbyterian Preschool playground in Wheaton.

Melissa Fowler sent in this photo she took of a cicada at Dellwood Park in Lockport.

Sue Ryan, of Elmhurst, told us she's "loving the invasion," and got this great shot of a cicada on the side of her house.

Carol Konvalinka sent in this photo her father, George, took of her when she was 2 in 1956, holding a cicada in the driveway of her home in Northbrook. "Now four cycles later, at age 70, I get to experience them here again," she told us.

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