'Greater Eastern Brood' cicadas are making their return to Tennessee. Why they're considered 'near threatened'
The last time this brood emerged was in 2008.
According to Cicada Mania, the loud guests will most likely be spotted north of Nashville, north-west of Chattanooga and in random places across East Tennessee. Counties most likely to spot cicadas include: Bledsoe, Blount, Campbell, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, Grainger, Grundy, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Marion, Putnam, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Sevier, Sumner, Unicoi, and Williamson.
Here's what to know about this year's cicadas as they begin to emerge from their underground burrows.
The three 17 year species of cicadas — Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassini and Magicicada septendecula —are all considered 'near threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning the species does not currently meet the criteria for critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable status, but it is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category.
All three species were listed as near threatened in 1996, 12 years before their last emergence.
Brood XIV is one of the largest 17-year periodical cicada broods.
According to the University of Connecticut, it is the second largest after Brood XIX and is larger than Brood X, earning it the nickname "Greater Eastern Brood." Brood XIV emerges eight years after Brood VI, four years after Brood X, and four years before Brood I.
According to Cicada Mania, millions of Brood XIV cicadas will emerge in the spring of 2025, and will most likely begin appearing in May across 13 states, including Tennessee.
These cicadas typically emerge when the soil, 8 inches below the surface, reaches around 64 degrees. Above-ground temperatures in the 70s to 80s help warm the soil to this point. Often, a warm rain can trigger their emergence, wrote Cicada Mania.
Cicadas will stick around throughout the spring and into the summer months. They are likely to leave by late June 2025.
In 2025, cicadas will primarily emerge in states located in the eastern half of the country. States welcoming the noisy visitors include:
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Maryland
North Carolina
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
Tennessee won't see the next periodical emergence of cicadas until 2028, when the 13-year cycle Brood XXIII cicadas return. According to Cicada Mania, they will most likely be seen throughout West Tennessee.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 2025 cicada brood emerging in Tennessee is considered ear threatened
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