Trillions of cicadas will emerge across several U.S. states this spring in anĀ event one expert dubbed “cicada-geddon.”Ā
Not only are more cicadas than usual expected this year, but some of them will be “zombie cicadas” that are infected by a sexually transmitted fungus that makes them hyper-sexual.Ā
Periodical cicadas spend most of their lives underground and only emerge after 13 or 17 years.
This year, two broods of cicadas will emerge:Ā Brood XIX, which comes out every 13 years, will emerge in the Georgia and Southeast, andĀ Brood XIII, which emerges every 17 years, willĀ appear in Illinois.Ā
Matthew Kasson, an associate professor of Mycology and Forest Pathology at West Virginia University, says both of these broods can be infected by a fungal pathogen called Massospora cicadina.
Once the cicadas emerge from the ground, they molt into adults, and within a week to 10 days, the fungus causes the backside of their abdomens open up.
A chalky, white plug erupts out, taking over their bodies and making their genitals fall off.Ā
“The cicada continues to participate in normal activities, like it would if it was healthy,” Kasson told CBS News. “Like it tries to mate, it flies around, it walks on plants. Yet, a third of its body has been replaced by fungus. That’s really kind of bizarre.”
Kasson said the reason the cicadas might be able to ignore the fungus is that it produces an amphetamine, which could give them stamina.
“But there’s also something else unusual about it,” he said.
“There’s this hyper-sexualized behavior. So, males for example, they’ll continue to try and mate with females ā unsuccessfully, because again, their back end is a fungus.Ā
