If you want to prepare for what is being billed as the summer of the cicada, the Forest Preserve District is selling cicada T-shirts just in time for the predicted insect invasion. 

There are two cicada shirt designs. The first shirt features an illustration of the buzzy bug and the words, “Be loud. Be proud.” This shirt has been so popular, the District is currently out of stock, but more inventory is coming and you can still order now for shipment no later than May 6. The second shirt says, "Cicadageddon 2024, It's Kind of a Big Deal." This shirt is in stock and orders can be placed. 

The green "Be loud. Be proud" shirts cost $20 and the "Cicadageddon" shirts cost $22 and can be ordered in multiple colors. Shirts are available for purchase on the Forest Preserve’s merchandise website, OutsiderThreads.com.

Because of the popularity of the cicada shirts, a spring sale has been extended. You can continue to save 20% off your entire order if you spend at least $50 on the website through Saturday, May 11. Use promo code Spend50 at checkout. 

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This summer will be unique because broods of 17-year and 13-year cicadas are going to emerge simultaneously, which is something that hasn’t happened since 1803 and won’t happen again until 2245. The brood overlap in Illinois will mostly occur in central and southern Illinois, but it still is likely to be a noisy summer in Will County with the 17-year cicada emergence.

"Periodical cicadas are among the longest-lived insects on the planet, living for 13 or 17 years," according to the University of Illinois Extension. "They spend the vast majority of that time living underground, feeding on tree roots. Once the soil warms enough in the spring (64°F at 8 inches deep), they will begin to emerge, depending on where you are located, sometime in May or early June."

So make sure to have your T-shirts ready to don to enjoy this interesting natural phenomenon. 

Youth and toddler sizes 

In addition to the cicada shirt, the Forest Preserve just added several new nature-themed shirt designs for toddlers and youth, with some matching shirts for adults. For instance, “Little Stinker” skunk shirts for children and “Big Stinker” shirts for adults. And some of the popular adult shirts, including the "Stay Trashy" raccoon shirt and the “Every Day I’m Hustlin'” turtle shirt, are now available in youth and toddler sizes. 

The merchandise lineup also includes magnets, sweatshirts, tank tops, onesies with matching bibs, hats and water bottles.

In addition to online sales, Forest Preserve staff will be selling shirts and other merchandise this summer at The Nature Foundation of Will County’s Bringing Nature Home native plant sale at Isle a la Cache preserve in Romeoville from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 19. 

Merchandise will also be sold at all three Fun & Food Truck programs from 5-8 p.m. Fridays on June 14 at Whalon Lake in Naperville, July 12 at Hammel Woods – Route 59 Access in Shorewood, and Aug. 9 at Hickory Creek – LaPorte Road Access in Mokena. 

All merchandise sales proceeds benefit The Nature Foundation of Will County, which provides money to the Forest Preserve District for conservation, restoration and nature education efforts.