'Bourbon brood' cicadas start emerging in Kentucky after 17-year slumber
Kentucky is known as the land of horses, bourbon and bluegrass — and soon, it will be home to a whole lot of cicadas.
Billions of the winged insects are set to emerge from underground starting this month for a weekslong, frenzied and famously noisy mating ritual.
This year, cicadas are expected to pop out of the ground in nearly a dozen states, but the emergence will mostly be centered in Kentucky and Tennessee. The insects will also appear in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and small portions of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York.
Some have nicknamed this season's cicadas the 'bourbon brood,' because of their concentration across Kentucky.
'We're kind of the epicenter, so it just felt like we could make it Kentucky proud,' said Jonathan Larson, an assistant extension professor in entomology at the University of Kentucky.
The bugs are known as periodical cicadas, because they spend a fixed number of years underground before coming to the surface to search for a mate. Seven broods of periodical cicadas can be found in North America, and depending on their type, they emerge either once every 13 years or once every 17 years.
This year's cicadas belong to Brood XIV, which live on a 17-year cycle.
Larson said the 'bourbon brood' moniker is apt because the insects' periodical nature is somewhat akin to the process of distilling Kentucky's famous whiskey.
'You have to age bourbon,' Larson said. 'We put it in barrels in the dark for a long time, so it's kind of similar.'
Cicada sightings have already begun in some southern counties in Kentucky, according to Larson, but the real show will begin in the coming weeks as the soil warms.
'I would expect in the next two weeks, we'll really hit full stride,' he said.
When that happens, some areas will be literally blanketed with cicadas. But it's not just the sheer number of them that make periodical cicada emergences a distinct experience, it's also the ear-piercing noise that comes with it.
Cicadas emit a high-pitched buzzing that can reach up to 100 decibels. The raucous noise is actually their mating song, used to find and attract females. After the insects emerge from underground, the females have only a few weeks to find a mate and lay their eggs before they die.
'The whole thing is wild and beautiful and weird and kind of wonderful,' Larson said.
Cicadas are harmless to humans, but some people find them a nuisance, especially after the insects die and huge numbers of carcasses cover the ground.
'At this early stage, there won't be any smells or anything, but later, in about five weeks, as many of them have died, there can be kind of a rotten, decomposing smell in some areas, if there's big enough piles of them,' Larson said.
Thousands of species of cicadas can be found around the world, but periodical cicadas are different because they spend the majority of their lives below ground, where they feed on tree roots and wait either 13 years or 17 years before tunneling to the surface.
The first cicadas typically emerge in waves sometime in early or mid-May, but most will make their way to the surface in June when conditions are warmer. Larson said cicadas usually wait for soil temperatures to hit around 64 degrees Fahrenheit before they make their push for the surface.
The insects' dependence on environmental cues has raised concerns about how climate change may be affecting cicadas and their mating ritual.
'If it's warmer earlier in the year, there is the potential that they could start moving closer to the surface before they ought to,' Larson said, and this could prove deadly to cicadas, since 'we could have a late freeze or extreme weather events like flooding, which we've seen a lot of in Kentucky.'
It's an active area of research for scientists, who are particularly interested in studying the long-term impacts of climate change on cicada broods.
Meanwhile, in the coming weeks Larson and other bug enthusiasts across multiple states will have the chance to witness a fascinating phenomenon.
'I hope people will go and try to experience it,' Larson said. 'It only happens here in the U.S. There aren't other places that can experience this, so I encourage people to do cicada tourism if they can.'
Citizen scientists can even help with research efforts by snapping pictures of the insects and recording geographical details about sightings on an app called Cicada Safari.
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5 days ago
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Biblical swarm invades multiple US states for the first time in 17 years... see if your hometown is at risk
Hundreds of billions of screaming insects are emerging from the ground throughout the US in a jarring sight that hasn't taken place in 17 years. The long-awaited cicada invasion is here, and the bugs have already been spotted hatching in at least three states: Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Scientists are also expecting billions more to emerge at any moment in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. This startling awakening of cicadas is referred to as Brood XIV. The insects last appeared in 2008, and now the next window in their synchronized life cycle has come again. The cicadas are hatching as the soil in these states reaches a temperature of about 64° Fahrenheit. The swarm will reach its peak in early June. Heavily infested areas with plenty of tree-covered land will likely see more than a million bugs per acre. While entomologists (scientists studying insects) say these creatures are harmless, their sheer numbers often frighten people who see these massive broods and hear their loud, shrieking mating calls. For those who can't stand the sight of them, there's an app for that, and scientists are now giving everyone the ability to track (and avoid) Brood XIV's emergence. Brood XIV, which emerge every 17 years, have a distinct look compared to annual cicadas, having black and orange coloring and red eyes. They're about one inch in length after hatching from their eggs and have a wingspan of roughly three inches when fully grown. The cicadas Americans see on a yearly basis throughout the country are typically green, brown, or gray with darker markings. Brood XIV is one of a dozen cicada broods which sprout from the ground throughout the US every 17 years. Each group is on its own schedule, with one brood emerging last year and another expected to hatch in 2029. Brood XIV is one of the most widespread hatchings throughout the US, covering 13 states with billions of insects. Only Brood X, which hatched in 2024, spreads across more states every 17 years, covering 16 states. Dr Gene Kritsky, a noted entomologist at Mount St Joseph University in Ohio, helped to develop the Cicada Safari app to track emergences. It's available on both iPhones and Android devices. 'Periodical cicadas are more than just a natural marvel,' Kritsky said in a statement in February. 'They are bugs of history and their emergences inform us about land use and climate.' To his point, these periodic cicada swarms have been written about for centuries, but not always positively. In 1634, the governor of Plymouth Colony, William Bradford, compared the sight of a cicada swarm to flies that were as big as bumblebees. He added that the brood 'soon made such a constant yelling noise' which was deafening to the American settlers. Brood XIV males produce loud, synchronized mating calls that can reach up to 100 decibels - that's as loud as a leaf blower, a rock concert or nightclub, or a chainsaw. 'It's one of the most annoying sounds ever,' one person posted on X Monday while recording the mating calls. For those who can't wait for Brood XIV to move on, they won't have to wait long. The life span of these cicadas is just two to four weeks. That means the billions and billions of fresh insects emerging throughout the US this spring will actually be dead by July. In that short window, Brood XIV cicadas will have mated, laid eggs, and died. After death, their bodies decompose and contribute nutrients to the soil. Specifically, the cicada remains add nitrogen to the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer for forests, grasslands, and even compost piles if collected. This boosts plant growth and supports local forests. The mass emergence of Brood XIV also provides local wildlife, including birds, squirrels, raccoons, reptiles, and even fish with an abundant food source. This helps certain species boost their own populations, as the animals aren't struggling to find food or avoid predators - who are also snacking on the cicada swarm. If pets consume several of the cicadas, they may experience temporary upset stomach or vomiting, but owners don't have to worry about their cat or dog eating an occasional cicada they find outside as eating them is considered harmless. That's because the insects do not bite, sting, carry diseases, or secrete any toxins that would make animals sick after ingestion. For humans, experts say the best thing to do until Brood XIV is gone is close the windows, use a white noise machine to drown out their mating calls, and cover any young trees with a fine mesh net. This will keep the cicadas from laying their eggs in your new tree, which will then become the next home of Brood XIV in 2042.
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'Bourbon brood' cicadas start emerging in Kentucky after 17-year slumber
Kentucky is known as the land of horses, bourbon and bluegrass — and soon, it will be home to a whole lot of cicadas. Billions of the winged insects are set to emerge from underground starting this month for a weekslong, frenzied and famously noisy mating ritual. This year, cicadas are expected to pop out of the ground in nearly a dozen states, but the emergence will mostly be centered in Kentucky and Tennessee. The insects will also appear in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and small portions of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. Some have nicknamed this season's cicadas the 'bourbon brood,' because of their concentration across Kentucky. 'We're kind of the epicenter, so it just felt like we could make it Kentucky proud,' said Jonathan Larson, an assistant extension professor in entomology at the University of Kentucky. The bugs are known as periodical cicadas, because they spend a fixed number of years underground before coming to the surface to search for a mate. Seven broods of periodical cicadas can be found in North America, and depending on their type, they emerge either once every 13 years or once every 17 years. This year's cicadas belong to Brood XIV, which live on a 17-year cycle. Larson said the 'bourbon brood' moniker is apt because the insects' periodical nature is somewhat akin to the process of distilling Kentucky's famous whiskey. 'You have to age bourbon,' Larson said. 'We put it in barrels in the dark for a long time, so it's kind of similar.' Cicada sightings have already begun in some southern counties in Kentucky, according to Larson, but the real show will begin in the coming weeks as the soil warms. 'I would expect in the next two weeks, we'll really hit full stride,' he said. When that happens, some areas will be literally blanketed with cicadas. But it's not just the sheer number of them that make periodical cicada emergences a distinct experience, it's also the ear-piercing noise that comes with it. Cicadas emit a high-pitched buzzing that can reach up to 100 decibels. The raucous noise is actually their mating song, used to find and attract females. After the insects emerge from underground, the females have only a few weeks to find a mate and lay their eggs before they die. 'The whole thing is wild and beautiful and weird and kind of wonderful,' Larson said. Cicadas are harmless to humans, but some people find them a nuisance, especially after the insects die and huge numbers of carcasses cover the ground. 'At this early stage, there won't be any smells or anything, but later, in about five weeks, as many of them have died, there can be kind of a rotten, decomposing smell in some areas, if there's big enough piles of them,' Larson said. Thousands of species of cicadas can be found around the world, but periodical cicadas are different because they spend the majority of their lives below ground, where they feed on tree roots and wait either 13 years or 17 years before tunneling to the surface. The first cicadas typically emerge in waves sometime in early or mid-May, but most will make their way to the surface in June when conditions are warmer. Larson said cicadas usually wait for soil temperatures to hit around 64 degrees Fahrenheit before they make their push for the surface. The insects' dependence on environmental cues has raised concerns about how climate change may be affecting cicadas and their mating ritual. 'If it's warmer earlier in the year, there is the potential that they could start moving closer to the surface before they ought to,' Larson said, and this could prove deadly to cicadas, since 'we could have a late freeze or extreme weather events like flooding, which we've seen a lot of in Kentucky.' It's an active area of research for scientists, who are particularly interested in studying the long-term impacts of climate change on cicada broods. Meanwhile, in the coming weeks Larson and other bug enthusiasts across multiple states will have the chance to witness a fascinating phenomenon. 'I hope people will go and try to experience it,' Larson said. 'It only happens here in the U.S. There aren't other places that can experience this, so I encourage people to do cicada tourism if they can.' Citizen scientists can even help with research efforts by snapping pictures of the insects and recording geographical details about sightings on an app called Cicada Safari.
