Brood X (Brood 10), the Great Eastern Brood, is one of 15 broods of periodical cicadas that appear regularly throughout the eastern United States. It has the greatest range and concentration of any of the 17-year cicadas.
Every 17 years, Brood X cicadas tunnel en masse to the surface of the ground, lay eggs, and then die off in several weeks. The combination of long dormancy, simultaneous emergence of vast numbers, and short period before the nymphs' burrowing underground to safety, allows the brood to survive even massive predation.
Brood X's most recent appearance was in the spring and early summer of 2004 throughout an area roughly enclosed by Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York and Georgia. The next appearances will be in 2021 and 2038.
Read more about Brood X: Further Reading
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