Cicadas could emerge soon in Massachusetts. Here's what to expect.

Yahoo

03-05-2025

The emergence of cicadas could start any moment now.
Last year, the country witnessed a surge of the insects but they were not in Massachusetts.
This time around, the 17-year periodical cicadas, also known as Brood XIV, will emerge.
"Cicadas emerge when the soil temperature reaches about 64°F at a depth of 12–18 inches," according to The Nature Conservancy.
So, when will the cicadas start appearing? And how long does the cicada emergence last?
Here's what to know.
The Nature Conservancy stated on its website that cicadas arrive as early as May and stay until late June.
WBUR radio in Massachusetts stated on its website that cicadas will most likely appear in mid-May, but more likely near the end of the month or early June.
The Nature Conservancy stated on its website that cicadas will remain in the region for a period of four-to-six weeks, adding that "the exact time of emergence can vary depending on the specific brood and soil temperatures."
There are more than 2,000 species of this insect worldwide, according to Mass Audubon the most common in Massachusetts being the "Dog Day" cicada, which arise every two years or so. The Dog Day cicada is "approximately 2.25 inches long, medium brown, with a green venation, the vein structure in its wing."
The "periodical" cicada comes out once every 17 years, and are a bit smaller than Dog Day cicadas, with black bodies, Mass Wildlife explained. The periodical creatures are the ones people are clamoring for this year.
What they're most known for is their ability to make a racket, able to generate noise reaching 100 decibels. Cicadas can typically be heard "singing" during late summer days, according to Mass Wildlife. The cicadas make such sounds with organs in their bodies called tympana.
According to Mass Audubon, "cicadas are among the most benign of insects" and do not typically carry any sorts of disease. The organization added that they do not hurt pets, either.
Brood XIV is the one that will emerge in parts of the United States this year, according to The Nature Conservancy.
The last time this particular brood of cicadas was around was 2008.
Historical dates for Brood XIV in Massachusetts include appearances over the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s in Barnstable, Dennis, Falmouth, Bourne, Plymouth and a handful of other nearby towns.
The cicadas will only be seen in 12 other states when they arrive, including Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, according to Cicada Mania.
In 2024, two broods of "periodical" cicadas – 13-year brood Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII – emerged from the ground at the same time last summer. That's a rare occasion in itself - it's not often that two such broods arise at the same time. It hadn't happened in 200 years.
However, the convergence of the two broods mostly occurred in the southern United States, so Massachusetts residents weren't able to see the full spectacle.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: When will cicadas arrive in Massachusetts