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USA Today
19-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
No, cicadas won't bite: Five debunked myths about cicadas
No, cicadas won't bite: Five debunked myths about cicadas Cicada Brood XIV, the second-largest periodical brood, has begun to emerge in some Eastern states. Along with some possible stragglers from other broods, including Brood I, Brood VI and Brood X, could emerge this year as well, according to the University of Connecticut. Based on their past behavior, cicadas from Brood XIV will likely make their appearances in 14 states, said Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that gathers data on the insects. They include Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and Indiana in nine southern counties. Although the insects are large, noisy and pretty annoying, they're not harmful. Here are five other common myths about cicadas: Myth: Cicadas are like locusts Some people interpret the sudden presence of a huge number of cicadas outside their home as a bad omen, much like the biblical plague of locusts. Even though they have been referred to as locusts, cicadas are their own family of insect. Locusts are a type of grasshopper. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Similar to how cicadas emerge all at once, locusts travel in big swarms. Locusts are significantly more harmful than cicadas because they devour large amounts of vegetation and harm nearby farms. Cicadas, on the other hand, consume tree sap and are not dangerous to crops. Myth: Exposure to cicada noise will cause hearing loss As the second-largest periodical cicada, Brood XIV can make a lot of noise when the male cicadas attempt to attract mates with their buzzing sounds. That can be especially true when there are a lot of insects in the yard. But it's unlikely their noise will permanently harm your hearing – unless you're exposed to it for several hours consecutively at very close range. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noise from cicadas does not cause hearing loss. Cicadas can reach high decibel levels According to CicadaMania, each species has its own sound, and the chorus can reach 90 to 100 decibels – about as loud as a lawn mower. Myth: Cicadas don't pee on you Yes, cicadas can pee on you, in fact, quite a lot. It is commonly called honeydew or cicada rain, according to John Cooly, an entomologist at the University of Connecticut. Periodical cicadas, which appear in large numbers once every 13 to 17 years, have the unique ability to urinate in high-velocity jets, according to a recent article in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Most insects that consume xylem tree sap typically pee in small droplets to conserve energy as they expel waste fluid, according to the 2024 study. But because cicadas consume 300 times their weight in plant sap, they expel waste fluid in jets to be more energy efficient. How animal species compare when releasing waste fluid The reason why certain animals urinate in jets while others urinate in droplets can be explained by two concepts – The animal's size and the shape of the liquid as it exits the species. Researchers believe that the bigger body sizes and the energy savings allow cicadas to urinate more like large mammals. Myth: Cicadas bite No, cicadas aren't equipped to bite or sting like bees or wasps, ants and other insects, according to Cicada Mania, a website devoted to cicadas. Their mouthparts do have the ability to "pierce and suck" fluids from trees and plants. They also have prickly legs and feet which could prick your skin if they are held. Myth: Cicadas are dangerous to pets It may seem like a zombie-esque "Night of the Living Dead" as cicadas start to rise from the ground in spring, but there's no reason to worry – even for your pets. The phrase "zombie cicadas" refers to cicadas that have contracted the fungus Massospora cicadina, which might cause them to behave strangely, but these cicadas are not harmful to people or pets. Cicadas don't bite or sting and are more of a nuisance than a danger. Cicadas aren't poisonous if a pet ingests a few. But eating too many could lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea, according to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the American Kennel Club. The cicadas will only spend about five weeks above ground before they die off and leave us with the piles of dead, fallen carcasses. For those who detest the cicadas, good news. Because of the cicada's 17-year life cycle, Brood XIV won't be seen again until 2042. CONTRIBUTING London Gibson/USA TODAY NETWORK, Clare Mulroy, Saleen Martin and Jim Sergent/USA TODAY SOURCE University of Connecticut, Elio J. Challita at Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; Scientific American, Hearing Health Foundation, Cicada Mania, Cicada Safari, Lander University and USA TODAY research This story was updated to add new information.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cicadas start to emerge across the U.S.; how will Missouri and Illinois be impacted?
MISSOURI — Last year Missouri and Illinois experienced a 'cicada-geddon,' and now the cicadas are expected to emerge across the country again as soil temperatures begin to rise. Last year, Missouri and Illinois experienced a long summer of 13-year Brood XIX and 17-year Brood XIII in 2024. While the double brood was a rare occurrence, cicadas are gearing up for their return, but this time in the eastern part of the country. The Farmer's Almanac reports that cicada Brood XIV and potentially Brood I are gearing up as the many eastern states dive into the summer. Suspect dead after shootout with St. Louis officer; investigation linked to three homicide victims This time around, Missouri and Illinois will likely miss this year's cicada takeover. While nearby states such as Tennessee will potentially see the double brood alongside Indiana and Kentucky, which will only get Brood XIV. West Virginia and Virginia are also expecting to see the double brood. Cicadas in eastern states are expected to emerge later in the spring as soil temperatures rise and trees are leafed out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Cicada map 2025: Here's where Brood XIV has already been spotted
Cicada map 2025: Here's where Brood XIV has already been spotted The cicadas are back – well, some of them. Brood XIV has begun to emerge in some eastern U.S. states. The brood emerges every 17 years, and is considered the second largest periodical cicada brood, according to the University of Connecticut. Researchers use past emergences to predict where and when periodical cicadas will appear again, said Gene Kritsky, a professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and founder of the Cicada Safari app, which is used to track the emergence of cicadas. The group gathers data on the insects and creates a map of where they've been spotted. In this brood's case, the group last emerged in 2008. This year, they are slated to appear in states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Here's what you need to know about Brood XIV and where they've been spotted so far. Where have cicadas started to emerge? So far, most of the cicadas added to this year's Cicada Safari map are in western North Carolina and parts of Tennessee. As of May 2, cicadas have been photographed in the following areas: Asheville-area, North Carolina - 140 sightings South of Knoxville, Tennessee - 25 sightings Nashville-area, Tennessee - 17 sightings Sporadic sightings were also reported in Georgia and southwestern Ohio. To keep track of cicada sightings, download the Cicada Safari mobile app, visit or There may be stragglers: Not all cicadas are Brood XIV Known for the buzzing sound they make, cicadas are part of the same order as insects such as stink bugs, bed bugs, aphids and cicada families. Brood XIV only occurs in the eastern half of the U.S., Kritsky said. Both Kritsky and researchers at the University of Connecticut run mapping programs for cicadas, and because there are so many broods of cicadas, knowing which group they belong to can be difficult, experts say. Brood XIV occurs eight years after Brood VI, four years after Brood X, four years before Brood I, and so on. Because of the timing of it all, there may be 'stragglers,' or cicadas from other groups, the University of Connecticut said. 'From a practical perspective, stragglers from any of these broods complicate mapping efforts, because populations may be difficult to assign to a brood,' wrote the researchers. 'There will be substantial numbers of stragglers in 2025, and if they are mistaken for Brood XIV emergences, these mistaken records will create the impression that Brood XIV has grown suddenly and substantially larger, when no such thing is true.' Researchers said this year, Brood XIV emergences will be dense and widespread, while stragglers will be 'more patchy and scattered.' Brood XIV: See the 2025 cicada map Based on past behaviors, the group is likely making its appearance in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and in nine southern counties in Indiana, said Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that gathers data on the insects. This map shows roughly where Brood XIV is expected to make an appearance this spring, however, experts say it can be tricky to know exactly which counties will have confirmed sightings. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Science
- USA Today
13 states expected to be buzzing with cicadas this year: When and where they will emerge
The second-largest periodical cicada broods – Brood XIV – will be emerging this spring. There may even be stragglers from other broods, such as Brood I, Brood VI and Brood X, according to the University of Connecticut. There are at least 15 cycles, or "broods," of periodical cicadas, some of which emerge every 17 years, while others emerge every 13 years. Different broods of cicadas emerge in different parts of the eastern half of the U.S. in different years. Other species will show up every summer. Brood XIV emerges every 17 years. That means their last time they saw the sun, George W. Bush was president and the average price of eggs was only $1.99. Here's what we know about these interesting insects. When will they emerge? It depends on the weather and location, but typically these 17-year periodical cicadas emerge in the spring, usually in late April and early June, according to The ground temperature plays a big part in when they begin to emerge. When the ground temperature reaches about 64 degrees 8 inches below the surface, it will signal the cicadas it's time to emerge. If the weather is consistently warm and dry, the cicadas will finish mating sooner rather than later, which would mean a shorter season. Typically, their lifespan is four to six weeks, and they will start to die off in late June. Where will the Brood XIV cicadas emerge? Although there have been reports of Brood XIV in some areas of Indiana and Ohio, the species is mainly found in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. The states where they're expected to emerge this year are Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. Because stragglers from other broods could emerge, a 100% precise map is nearly impossible. Below are the approximate locations of Brood XIV cicadas, according to Cicada Mania and the U.S. Forest Service. What do Brood XIV cicadas look like? All cicadas aren't the same; they can vary in color and size. Brood XIV cicadas can be three-quarters of an inch to 1¼ inches long, according to N.C. State University. But they're typically around 1.75 inches. Unlike the greenish-colored annual cicadas, periodical cicadas are known for their bold red eyes, black bodies and clear wings. They can be really noisy. Cicadas are among the world's loudest insects, scientists say. They can make as much noise as a motorcycle, according to the National Institute of Health. Do cicadas bite or sting? No. Cicadas aren't equipped to sting like bees or wasps. They do have prickly feet that could poke your skin if they are held. Cicadas aren't dangerous. They're not harmful to 'humans, pets, household gardens, or crops,' according to the Environmental Protection Agency. CONTRIBUTING Saleen Martin
