A loud, pervasive type of cicada that emerges only once every 17 years will appear this year in far western Missouri, but apparently not in Kansas.

Cicadas from what is known as “Brood XIII” are projected to come up from the ground in an area extending as far east as Benton County, Missouri — which is adjacent to Crawford County in southeast Kansas — says a 2024 cicada map compiled using data from various federal agencies and published May 7 by USA Today.

But Brood XIII cicadas aren’t expected to emerge in Kansas, which is anticipated to see “only the non-periodical cicadas we see every year,” said Rodrigo Mercader, an assistant professor of biology at Washburn University.

“We will have to wait until 2032 to see periodical cicadas in Kansas when Brood IV emerges,” Mercader told The Capital-Journal on Monday.

Brood IV cicadas also come up from their subterranean homes every 17 years, and last did so in Kansas in 2015, he said.

Why are people excited about periodical cicadas?

There are at least 15 cycles, or “broods,” of periodical cicadas, some of which emerge every 17 years while others emerge every 13 years.

The red-eyed bugs with black bodies and translucent, orange-tinted wings stay above ground for a few weeks, mating and laying eggs, before they die. Their eggs then produce the next generation of cicadas.

Mercader said people are becoming excited about periodical cicadas this year for two main reasons:

• Numerous periodical cicadas from two different groups — Brood XIII, which emerges from the ground every 17 years and Brood XIX, which comes up every 13 years — are appearing this year. Though the geographic areas where those broods appear are adjacent, there is little overlap and only small areas of central Illinois are expected to see both broods. The two broods last emerged at the same time in 1803.

• Broad XIX periodical cicadas will be present in a large geographic area, appearing in “quite a few” states.

Where are periodical cicadas expected to appear this year?

Different broods of cicadas emerge in different parts of roughly the eastern half of the United States in different years. Other species of cicada show up every summer.

Cicadas have not been seen in the far West.

Many of this year’s cicadas have already come up from the ground.

States anticipated to see periodical cicadas this year are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.

As reported in the Topeka Capital Journal

“The Western agricultural industry is confronted with a unique body of legal and policy issues, with water issues often at the very top of the list.” — Harrison Pittman.

Instream water rights and the future of irrigated ag. The Klamath River Basin and the Endangered Species Act. The future of water quality in the West. Legal ethics and state water boards. Each of these issues and more will be on the agenda for the National Agricultural Law Center’s 2nd Annual Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference, set for June 13-14 in Reno, Nevada.

“The Western agricultural industry is confronted with a unique body of legal and policy issues, with water issues often at the very top of the list,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “We’re thrilled that some of the most respected water law experts in the West will be part of our terrific lineup of conference sessions.”

The conference, which will be held at the University of Nevada, Reno, will also be livestreamed. A complete conference agenda, as well as conference registration, is available online.

The Western Conference features 12 hours of continuing legal education credits, including two hours of ethics. It has been approved for CLE in Nevada and Idaho, and will be submitted for approval in Oregon, California, Arizona and Utah. It has also been approved for continuing education from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The NALC will coordinate with attendees to self-report in other states.

The water law sessions and speakers for the Western include:

• Going With the Flow: Instream Water Rights & the Future of Irrigated Ag
  • Merissa Moeller, Associate, Stoel Rives LLP
• The Klamath River Basin & the Endangered Species Act: Implications for Ag in Western States
  • Paul Simmons, Special Counsel, Somach Simmons & Dunn
• WOTUS & Water Quality in the West in a Post-Sackett World
  • Tess Dunham, Partner, Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP
• Water Law & Ethics: Sinking and Swimming With Litigation, Water Districts, and Agencies
  • Lauren D. Layne, Shareholder, Baker Manock & Jensen
  • Joe M. Marchini, Shareholder, Baker Manock & Jensen

Pittman said that Western attendees from a wide variety of backgrounds will benefit from the information shared at the conference.

“The Western Conference is designed for attorneys and non-attorneys alike,” he said. “It’s a great learning and networking opportunity for ag professionals, attorneys, students and more.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.