02.23.2024

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Today’s Forecast

62º | 75% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. | Sunset 6:04 p.m.

💭 What’s all the buzz about?

Everything you need to know about the 2024 cicada super brood

Dozens of cicadas sit on the branch of a tree

Cicadas prefer oaks, willows, maples, and ash trees. | Photo via Gene Kritsky

Are you ready for swarms of cicadas to take over a 16-state area?

It’s rare, but occasionally two broods emerge at the same time. Brood XIII (comprising cicadas that emerge every 17 years) and Brood XIX (13-year cicadas) will both reproduce this spring.

Did you know? The last time Broods XIII and XIX emerged simultaneously was 1803.

Enter: the super brood

Does this mean the two broods can reproduce with each other? Will that result in even more cicadas during their next emergences?

We spoke to Dr. Gene Kritsky, a cicada expert at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, to find out. He let us know that since “the broods do not have a wide area of overlap” it is unlikely that they will reproduce with each other. However, he noted, “If there was an overlap, it could satiate the predators more quickly, resulting in generally more offspring from each brood.”

A gif showing the difference between one cicada brood emerging in the south and both emerging in the south and through Illinois and Wisconsin. — Brood XIII (aka Northern Illinois Brood) joins Brood XIX (the Great Southern Brood).
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Map via Gene Kritsky, gif created with Knight Labs

What this means

The good news? There is no overlap of broods in Raleigh, so we are unlikely to see more cicadas due to the super brood. But it’s possible.

However, Brood XIX is coming. Cicadas usually emerge when the soil hits 64 degrees. Currently, our soil is at ~44 degrees. Check the current soil temp in your area.

In other words, we’re close to the event these cicadas have been waiting over a decade for.

The Cicada Safari map in Raleigh shows two sightings just outside of Raleigh — Watch out Zebulon, the cicadas are coming for you too.
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Screenshot via Cicada Safari courtesy of Gene Kritsky

How you can help

Cicada Safari needs you to track cicada spottings. Mapping cicadas helps experts understand when broods may emerge. Per Dr. Kritsky, it also led to a discovery “that some 17-year cicadas can emerge four years early and may form a new brood.”

Download the free app to track cicada spottings and submit your own photos.

Look for cicadas where there are trees, full sun, and low vegetation. Think: Dorothea Dix Park and Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

Asked

Did you learn something today?

Prove it by taking our cicada quiz below.

Buzz this way

Events

Friday, Feb. 23

Lauren Daigle — The Kaleidoscope Tour | Friday, Feb. 23 | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $37-$125 | Listen to this contemporary Christian singer and songwriter perform hits like “Rescue.”
Special Event: Tim Meadows | Friday, Feb. 23-Saturday, Feb. 24 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Goodnights Comedy Club, 401 Woodburn Rd., Raleigh | $22-$34 | You know this comedy veteran from “Saturday Night Live” and movies like “Mean Girls” — see him take the stage in Raleigh.

Saturday, Feb. 24

Women’s Self Love Retreat | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | September Candle Studio, 1101 E. Whitaker Mill Rd., Ste. 118, Raleigh | $89 | Participate in empowering workshops, candle making, and guided breathwork.
Winter Volksfest | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raleigh | $10 | Attend the Southeast’s only all-Volkswagen indoor car show + swap meet.
Re(a)d to Filth Ball | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 7-10 p.m. | NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh | $50-$100 | Enjoy a night of dancing, drag performances, and community benefiting the relaunch of the LGBT Center of Raleigh’s library and programs.

Sunday, Feb. 25

Grateful Dub w/ Roots of Creation | Sunday, Feb. 25 | 7 p.m. | Lincoln Theatre, 126 E. Cabarrus St., Raleigh | $14-$35 | Vibe out to this band playing a reggae-infused tribute to the Grateful Dead.
The Matthews House Winter Showcase | Sunday, Feb. 25 | 1-4 p.m. | The Matthews House, 317 W. Chatham St., Cary | $5 | Browse wedding vendors at this unique venue.

Saturday, March 2

Future Me Fair | Saturday, March 2 | 1-4 p.m. | Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | Museum admission | Learn about various trades and professions at this kid-sized career showcase. Come spark career aspirations and empower kids to dream big about future pathways. Museum admission is required.*

More weekend happenings

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Health

WakeMed has been approved to add beds to its hospital, and it has plans to build a 121,000-sqft tower at WakeMed North Hospital. The expansion will include a five-story tower with 35 short-stay care beds and 15 observation beds. Competing proposals from Duke Health and UNC Health were denied. (Triangle Business Day)

Concert

American rapper Jelly Roll is bringing the “Beautifully Broken” tour to PNC Arena on Sept. 20. Presale tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 26 + Friday, March 1 for general admission.

Drink

This calls for a toast. Celebrate State of Beer’s ninth anniversary this Saturday, Feb. 24 with the release of a new Tart Saison on draft. ICYMI, the Trophy Brewing-owned bottle + sandwich shop is moving to West Morgan Street near the brewery’s pizza-slinging flagship.

Community

Raleigh Parks is hosting an open house for the future Smoky Hollow Park on Saturday, March 2. Meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the future park site at 1014 N. West St. to learn more about project plans.

Arts

Lend Artsplosure a hand at its Spring Arts Festival on May 18 + May 19. The nonprofit is calling for volunteers to fill roles, including assisting with children’s activities, sitting in artists’ booths, providing hospitality, and more.

Kids

Is your Raleigh teen — ages 13 to 15 — interested in learning more about transportation issues? Sign them up for the Commute Smart Ambassador Academy. The program’s goal is to engage teens in activities + lessons around transportation to help them become ambassadors for their peers. Academy graduates will be awarded a free bicycle.

Travel

Did you know? African American entrepreneurship in the Fayetteville area dates back to the early 1800s — and, today, the area has one of the highest percentages of Black-owned businesses in the US. See how you can shop, eat, drink, play, and relax with Black-owned businesses in Fayetteville.*

Finance

These four credit cards offer 0% intro APR for up to 18 months — meaning that when life piles up (unexpected tax payments, medical appointments, or picking up the bill for the whole table at Tamasha...) — you could have almost two years to avoid interest charges.*

Shop

🦴 Support small biz with Six & Main

Shop + support small businesses with Six & Main

A smiling dog sitting outside behind three bags of treats with three ring sculptures in the background.

City Editor Cat’s senior dog Tucker loves Botanical Bones + supporting small biz. | Photo by RALtoday

City Editor Cat here. Did you know you can shop + support small businesses across 6AM City’s 26 markets with our online marketplace Six & Main? That’s where I found Botanical Bones, a superfood dog treat brand out of Asheville (hey, AVLtoday).

I’ve become more intentional with what my senior dog Tucker eats lately — because I want him to live forever — so I decided to give Botanical Bones a try while supporting a small NC-based business.

Dog biz owner Rachel started making clean, healthy treats after adopting her pup Carnaby in 2020 — he liked them so much that they started to share with neighborhood pups, which eventually grew into a budding business.

The treats are made with superfoods, adaptogens, and peanut butter — Tucker is a finicky eater and gobbles these up.

The Botanical Bones Bundle was perfect for him because it came with: one Flower Power pack to promote longevity, one Balance + Calm pack for mood and good vibes, and one Inner Glow pack to support digestion.

Bonus: Botanical Bones donates a portion of its profits to rescue partners.

So, if you’re ready to support other amazing small businesses in the cities where we send our informative daily newsletters, get shopping on Six & Main.

The Buy

The Buy 2.23.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Chips and salsa, because honestly, is there a better snack? Sobremesa’s salsa is well worth the chip dip with flavors including layered, complex Mole Poblano + spicy Smoky Salsa Oaxaqueña.

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The Wrap

Cat George in a black turtleneck sweater

Today’s edition by:
Cat

From the editor

I can’t wait for live music in the City of Oaks this summer. Maggie Rogers announced “The Don’t Forget Me” tour with special guest The Japanese House and a stop at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on June 19. Soon, we will have to curate a summer version of our spring concert lineup.

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