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USA Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Cicadas invade parts of US as Brood XIV emerges: See photos
Cicadas invade parts of US as Brood XIV emerges: See photos After 17 years of dormancy, cicadas from Brood XIV are back and invading parts of the U.S. this spring. Show Caption Hide Caption Millions of cicadas expected in Georgia More cicadas than usual are expected again in Georgia this year when Brood 14 of the 17-year-periodical cicadas emerge. Fox - 5 Atlanta Cicadas are invading the U.S. as Brood XIV continues to make their way to over a dozen U.S. states. Brood XIV, the second-largest of periodical cicada broods, began emerging in the spring with most of the buzzing and clicking being heard in western North Carolina, southern Kentucky and parts of Tennessee. Gene Kritsky, a professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, told USA TODAY that the sightings are expected to occur in 13 U.S. states this year. Since early May, sightings in the Asheville, North Carolina area have risen from 140 to 739, according to Kristsky's group, Cicada Safari, which crowdsources and reviews data on the insects. Brood XIV emerges every 17 years, meaning the last time they came around was when former President George W. Bush was in office and the average price of eggs was only $1.99. The cicada brood usually knows it's time to emerge when the ground temperature reaches about 64 degrees, 8 inches below the surface. With cicadas flying around the U.S., pictures of the photogenic creatures have popped up. See the insects as they enjoy their time in the sun. See cicadas from Brood XIV invade the US Contributing: Anthony Robledo, Saleen Martin, Elizabeth Weise & Janet Loehrke/ USA TODAY Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@
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
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cincinnati, cicadas are here. Here's where the 17-year brood is invading. See the map
Cincinnati, did you prepare for the invasion? The cicadas are here. After 17 years underground, Brood XIV is emerging, and will bring millions if not billions of the noisy insects to Southwest Ohio and a dozen other states this spring. Several people from the Greater Cincinnati area have posted photos to social media showing adult cicadas from Brood XIV resting on plants after molting, with their nymph shells nearby. "We encourage everyone to take this unique opportunity to appreciate and learn more about these fascinating native forest insects and their value in naturally functioning ecosystems," said Tom Macy, forest health program manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. So how long will they stick around? And where in Ohio can you find them? Here's what to know. Yes. Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, according to ODNR. They emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. Annual cicadas emerge worldwide each year, but periodical cicadas are found only in eastern North America. They live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years before emerging above ground in massive numbers. Different populations of periodical cicadas are called 'broods' and are numbered with Roman numerals. Cicada Safari, a group that tracks the emergence of cicadas based on user submissions, reports nearly 40 cicada sightings in the Cincinnati area so far. Several posts on Facebook and Instagram show also cicadas emerging, with some mentioning Loveland, northeast of Cincinnati, specifically. Here's a sampling: They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs. Brood XIV cicadas will stretch from northern Georgia to Massachusetts. In Ohio, they will emerge in a more than dozen counties, per ODNR, mostly in Southwest Ohio: Adams Brown Butler Champaign Clermont Clinton Gallia Greene Hamilton Highland Jackson Lawrence Pike Ross Scioto Warren Washington Some of the edge counties will not see as heavy an emergence as others. The cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years are different from the ones seen every summer, and it's not just the amount of time. Dr. Gene Kritsky with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and founder of Cicada Safari, told WKRN in Nashville that periodical cicadas emerge in May or June, while annual cicadas show up later, in late June and July, and through the rest of summer. The two types also look different from each other. Periodical cicadas have black bodies with red eyes and red-orange wings and can be anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to an inch and one-quarter in length. Annual cicadas have dark green to black bodies with green-veined wings and black eyes and are larger. They can grow to an inch and one-third in length. While swarms of noisy insects may be unsettling for some, cicadas are harmless to people and pets, according to ODNR. They are also a valuable food source for native wildlife, including birds, mammals and fish. Egg-laying by female cicadas can cause 'flagging' on trees and shrubs (death of branch tips, from the egg-laying site to the end of the branch), but there is little to no impact on established, otherwise healthy plants, ODNR states. Small or newly planted trees and shrubs are more vulnerable to damage and can be protected by covering them with fine netting for the few weeks that adult cicadas are active. Using pesticides on cicadas is not warranted or recommended. How $20 can save your trees from cicadas Cicadas will dig holes and tunnel through your yard, but this helps the soil since those tunnels aerate your yard, encouraging root growth for the next season. "While your yard may appear to be a mess from all the holes and mud chimneys, just run a rake over your turf and add some grass seed after the cicadas are gone, and your yard will be as good as new in no time," according to The Nature Conservancy. States expecting cicadas this year include Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, told USA TODAY. Kentucky and Tennessee probably will get the most cicadas this year, said John Cooley, an ecology and biology associate professor in residence at the University of Connecticut. There will also be large numbers in Georgia, the Carolinas and Pennsylvania, he said. Any animal that can eat insects will eat cicadas, according to the Purdue University Extension. Those include fish, bears, birds, raccoons and even other insects, like parasitic wasps. They're also safe for your dog to eat, to a point. According to the American Kennel Club, a dog that eats the occasional cicada should be fine. However, dogs that gorge on cicadas will find their exoskeletons difficult to digest, resulting in an upset stomach, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Some dogs that overconsume cicadas may require a trip to the vet for IV fluids, or pain and anti-nausea medications. Cicadas, like locusts, show up suddenly and in large numbers, and are sometimes called "locusts," according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. However, cicadas are not locusts. Locusts are grasshoppers, and the two species are not closely related, according to the Xerces Society. Locusts also swarm for different reasons. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cicadas 2025: Ohio, the invasion is here. See the map, social reaction
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A 17-year cicada cycle is about to hit—here's what to know
One of summer's most recognizable sounds—along with lawn mowers and the clinking of ice in your porch beverage—is the song of the cicadas. The comforting (to some) buzz is found in southern states and in New England. These cool insects have the same lifespan as many dog breeds (13-17 years), and it's the males who make these passionate mating calls, which can reach 100 decibels—the same as a motorcycle or hairdryer. This year, something unusual is happening in the cicada world: the Brood XIV class will be seen for the first time since 2008, as reported by USA Today. These guys are kind of broody, kind of pompous like Louis XIV… and they're the second-largest periodical cicada brood, appearing for their fans every 17 years. That means high school juniors may have their first chance to see this Brood XIV class, so long as they live in one of 13 states. Those states where we can expect to see these rare singers are, in alphabetical order, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Of these, Kentucky and Tennessee will see the most. Much like Cape Cod's Sharktivity app, which tracks sightings of sharks, there's a Cicada Safari tracker where you can report and post photos of cicadas you come across. Once cicadas show up, you'll have about six weeks of enjoying their lively show tunes, but by July, the only signs of them will be their exit routes, the holes they bore in the ground. They burrow as deep as two feet down and live subterranean lives until they emerge again (in 17 years if they are Brood XIV class).
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
17-Year Cicadas Are Starting To Appear In These States Across The South
The invasion is already underway: 17-year cicadas have been spotted in a few Southern states in the midst of warm spring weather. Known as Brood XIV, this particular population of loud, buzzing insects hasn't been around since 2008. Brood XIV is the second largest periodical cicada brood behind the Great Southern Brood that took over much of the South in 2024. This year's cicadas are expected to emerge in 13 states, according to a report in USA Today. In the South, most of Kentucky will be inundated, as well as the eastern half of Tennessee, southwest West Virginia, and western North Carolina. The northeast tip of Georgia should also be prepared, and a few counties in Virginia and the DC area will likely see (or hear) Brood XIV as well. So far, the largest number of sightings (more than 1,300) have occurred in the mountains of western North Carolina. Tennessee and Kentucky have each had hundreds of reports, which are posted on a map generated from the Cicada Safari mobile app. Scientists project the noisy insects will be mostly gone by July. 'It takes about two full weeks for the great bulk of the cicadas to come out,' Gene Kritsky, a professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, told USA Today. 'Once they start coming out at a specific location, that starts the clock. You'll have cicadas at that location for the next six weeks.' They'll leave behind eggs in the trees that hatch later in the summer. The new nymphs will drop to the ground, bury themselves, and disappear until 2042. Read the original article on Southern Living
