Research shows that the particular night of the periodical cicadas’ emergence depends on soil temperature. Cicada juveniles, or nymphs, emerge after a rainstorm when the soil temperature at 8 inches in depth exceeds approximately 64°F. The dependence on a specific soil temperature means that a changing climate can affect the emergence timing of periodical cicadas by a matter of days, months, and sometimes years. This is evident in several areas, including Washington, D.C., which saw a partial emergence of Brood X a full four years earlier in 2017. Shifts in timing can impact populations of periodical cicadas by forming straggler populations that can then become confused with the emergence of other broods.>>13607498