Early stragglers of periodical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) found in Louisiana

Abstract A historic emergence event of two periodical cicada broods occurred in May and June of 2024. Leading up to the event, reports had circulated that Louisiana would not see Brood XIX ( Magicicada spp.; Hemiptera: Cicadidae). During the time of emergence, observations in central and northern Louisiana parishes were made of cicadas by independently working professional entomologists and citizen scientists using the iNaturalist app. However, it is strongly suspected that the observed cicadas were early stragglers of Broods XXII and XXIII ( Magicicada spp.). In central Louisiana, Magicicada spp. were noted to have been found in both mixed pine/hardwood stands comprising mainly loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.; Pinaceae) and sweetgum ( Liquidambar styraciflua L.; Altingiaceae), as well as bottomland hardwood forests. We believe it is imperative to continue monitoring cicadas in the years leading up to the emergences of Broods XXII and XXIII as a citizen science project or part of long-term periodical cicada research.