Cicada season is officially here. For the next few weeks these raucous insects will swarm across several states before disappearing around mid-summer. 2025 is expecting one of the largest cicada broods, which means over the course of this month billions of these flying insects will make their appearance.
The Greater Eastern Brood is expected to emerge this summer, and it’s the oldest brood in the US. Thirteen states can expect to deal with cicadas, and they’ve already been spotted in parts of Tennessee and Georgia.
I still remember the first year I saw a major cicada brood emerge. As a teenager, I watched as the swarm descended on my neighborhood. There were bugs everywhere — in my grandparents’ pool, inside my best friend’s truck — flying into open windows and causing a racket everywhere.
Cicadas are noisy and, when they emerge en masse, they cause their own brand of chaos. The noise can be deafening, and if you’re overstimulated by too much noise like I am, you’ll be counting the days until they disappear again. Investing in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is one way to get ready for the insect invasion.
Thankfully these pests aren’t a long term problem and after a few weeks they’ll depart again until their next emergence. For Brood XIV, which is appearing this year, that means we won’t see these particular critters again until 2037.
What are cicadas?
Cicadas are also known as “true bugs” and emerge on a 13-year or 17-year cycle.
Cicadas are small flying bugs that emerge from the ground periodically to mate and then disappear again. There are 15 broods of cicadas and each has its own life cycle, generally either 13 or 17 years. Brood XIV, the cicada brood emerging this year, is a 17-year brood and the last time we saw these particular insects was 2008.
Cicadas are loud and emit a constant buzzing sound when they make their appearance. While the noise can be aggravating, cicadas aren’t a major problem for humans. That’s because these bugs don’t bite or sting — they just show up everywhere for a few weeks before dying off again.
They measure 1 to 1.5 inches long, with wings that stretch twice that length. They have black bodies, red-brown eyes and orange veined membranous wings. The constant buzzing sound they emit is made by adult males seeking a female for mating.
How many cicadas are expected in 2025?
The 2025 brood is also called the Greater Eastern Brood and it’s the second largest brood of periodic cicadas. They’re outdone only by Brood XIX, aka the Great Southern Brood, which emerged in 2024. While there aren’t exact numbers on how many cicadas we can expect this year, we do know that Brood XIV is massive.
It’s also one of the oldest broods in the US. This particular brood was first spotted in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the 1600s, and it’s the brood that spawned all the other 17-year broods. With that in mind, we can estimate that at least several million in certain areas, and possibly over a trillion total cicadas will emerge in 2025.
When do cicadas appear, and how long do they stick around?
The red-eyed bugs of Brood XIV, which will soon emerge by the millions. The cicada chasers are ready.
Your immediate reaction to cicadas might be to try and eliminate them from your yard. We don’t recommend it. Cicadas are a temporary pest and after a few weeks they’ll disappear back underground. They aren’t a threat to humans at all and they aren’t able to chew their way into the house like termites.
Additionally, pesticides don’t work properly on cicadas. Trying to spray them down won’t do any good and could instead damage your yard or local pollinators. The best thing to do is to try to ignore them until they finish their life cycle.
The bigger problem for some people is the constant noise that cicadas make while they are above ground. It’s a relentless buzz and, once the cicadas arrive, it won’t stop until they die off again. If the never-ending noise drives you bonkers, grabbing a quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones can make a major difference.
Male cicadas make noise to attract females they can mate with — the more cicadas in an area, the louder it will be. Noise levels have reached more than 100 decibels in some areas, which means if you plan to spend time in the garden, it’s a good idea to snag some earplugs to protect your hearing.
Cicadas and climate change
For centuries, cicadas have slept underground, emerging only once every 13 to 17 years to mate before disappearing again. While plenty of research has been done on these flying insects, cicadas react to the temperature around them and emerge on a schedule that is triggered by the warmth of the ground.
As the planet continues to heat up, the timing of cicadas has started to change. We may soon see a significant change in the life cycle of cicadas. As the temperatures rise, 17-year cicadas could become 13-year cicadas, changing the timeline on when we will see them.
While cicadas might be inclined to move further north, it’s not an easy process. They can only migrate during their above-ground cycle of life. Because they only emerge for a few weeks at a time and aren’t prone to flying long distances, any shift in their geographical locations would occur slowly during their emergences.
How you can help cicada researchers
Cicadas can be eaten but there are things you should know before cooking them.
The simple answer is, yes. Cicadas can be eaten and people have been doing it for centuries.
Native American populations, like the Onondaga Nation, have long viewed the flying insect as a valuable food source. However, eating cicadas does come with risks. Cicadas are related to shrimp and lobster, which means eating them is not recommended if you have a seafood allergy.
Cicadas aren’t dangerous to pets either, which means if your dog snacks on cicadas it should be fine.
