After periodical cicadas die, annual cicadas in Illinois are next to emerge

Instead of listening to cicada mating calls throughout the day, many Illinois residents have begun sweeping dead cicadas from their doorsteps, porches and decks.

The noisy periodical cicadas that emerged from underground last month have come to the end of their life cycles just about everywhere in Illinois.

Are the cicadas in Illinois gone yet?

Almost. According to Morton Arboretum scientists, the last of the periodical cicadas should die off in the next few days. That does not mean they will be gone, because homeowners will still have all those carcasses to content with. And that answer makes a fine segue to the next question.

What do dead cicadas smell like?

They do not smell pleasant. The pest control company Terminix noted they can emit a terrible stench. The University of Illinois Extension compared the odor of decaying dead cicadas to roadkill but also noted that they serve as fertilizer for plants.

More: Too much information? Some of these facts about cicadas might disgust you

What do baby cicadas look like?

Cicadas go through five stages of development called instars, according to Cicada Mania, with the fifth instar being the adult stage. When first instar cicada nymphs hatch, they are pale-colored and resemble small ants or small termites with six legs and antennae.

Cicadas 2024: What animals eat cicadas?

What are dog day cicadas?

Dog day cicadas are annual cicadas. They emerge during the heat of summer, usually around July, said Kacie Athey, a specialty crops entomologist with the University of Illinois Extension. The annual cicadas can be seen into September. They sound the same as the periodical cicadas to humans but they look different.