No, we here in the Netherlands have mast years too and we don't have any cicadas. The claim is that they change the mast year pattern for a few years after the

No, we here in the Netherlands have mast years too and we don't have any cicadas. The claim is that they change the mast year pattern for a few years after they emerge. Interestingly, I think the theory behind the periodical life cycle of the cicadas is the same as the one behind mast years -- there are no predators who have evolved to only be around every 13th year, so the number of predators around will be the same as in non-cicada years. Giving the huge amounts of cicadas in this year a good chance of survival.