Tag Archives: 2024 Lab Highlights

Introducing the Wisconsin Periodical Cicada Website

Now that the solar eclipse has passed, the next big natural phenomenon in Wisconsin will be the emergence of Brood XIII periodical cicadas in late May and June.  These insects last emerged in the state in 2007 around the time that Steve Jobs was releasing the very first iPhone.  While there were some reports of out-of-sync “stragglers” a few years ago, 2024 will be the year of their big emergence.  Since these insects emerge every 17 years, you might only have a handful of opportunities to see them in the Badger State in your entire life.  Despite having grown up in southeastern Wisconsin and turning 40 next year, I still have not witnessed an emergence myself and I’m really looking forward to this year’s activity.

With all the “buzz” about these amazing insects, I recently developed a new Wisconsin Periodical Cicada Website: cicadas.wisc.edu.  This site covers the biology, ecology, and distribution of these insects, with lots of photos, audio recordings, cool historical videos, and other resources.

Wisconsin Periodical Cicada Website
The recently launched Wisconsin Periodical Cicada Website.

I also wanted to get a clearer picture of where these insects occur in Wisconsin.  This winter, I dug through 150+ years of books, newspaper columns, university and government reports, and specimens in our very own Wisconsin Insect Research Collection to develop an updated map for the state.  While this map is an improvement over older ones, there’s still plenty to learn about the local distribution of these cicadas in Wisconsin.  To that end, I also launched a community science project on the website for participants to submit their own sightings from the state.  It’s a brief fillable form and photos can be uploaded right from your phone, tablet, or computer—no app required.  I’d love to receive any reports of periodical cicadas from Wisconsin this year to help improve our map of them in the state.

If you’re a cicada enthusiast and have a lot of reports to share, feel free to contact me via email (pliesch@wisc.edu) to discuss other arrangements.  If you’re unsure if you’ve spotted a periodical cicada, check out the website’s Cicada Basics page or reach out for assistance at the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab.

Adult periodical cicada
Adult periodical cicada. Photo credit: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Program; public domain image.

Lastly, if you’re hoping to see and experience the periodical cicadas for yourself, your best bet would be to visit the Lake Geneva area in June.  This part of the state has a very long and well-established history of periodical cicada activity.  There’s also an updated Wisconsin map and a summary for each county on the periodical cicada website’s When and Where page.  Previously, much of this information was buried in the literature, so the Wisconsin Periodical Cicada Website offers a unique look at the known distribution of these insects in the Badger State.

Check out cicadas.wisc.edu for additional details and get ready for all the buzz this spring!

Webinar Announcement: 2024 Monthly Ask the Experts Q&A Sessions

Ask the Experts:  A Monthly Garden and Landscape Q&A Series Sponsored by the UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program


Join our monthly online programs in 2024 for an opportunity to connect with plant health experts from the UW-Madison Division of Extension. Each session, held on Monday afternoons from 1:00-2:00 PM, is your chance to ask questions about your trees and shrubs, garden vegetables and ornamentals, lawns and more. Whether it’s about plant diseases, insects, or the selection and general care of plants in and around your home, our panel of seasoned experts will provide you with insightful answers. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to cultivate your knowledge and keep your plants thriving.


These online sessions are free but registration is required for each one that you would like to attend (see links below). Upon registration you will receive an email confirmation with the link for joining the session. All sessions are Mondays from 1:00-2:00 PM.

January 22, 2024  To register for this session, click here.

February 19, 2024  To register for this session, click here.

March 18, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

April 22, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

May 20, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

June 17, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

July 22, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

August 19, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

September 23, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

October 21, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

November 18, 2024 To register for this session, click here.

December 16, 2024 To register for this session, click here.