Millions of Brood XIV Cicadas Are Returning to These Georgia Cities

The cicada brood of 2025 is emerging. Are you ready for it? Known as Brood XIV, this cyclical cicada swarm has been lying dormant underground for years, awaiting warmer weather and ideal climate conditions. Now, the cicadas of Brood XIV are emerging in northern Georgia.

Where in the state of Georgia will Brood XIV emerge? What can you expect from this emergence, and how often do cicadas undergo these complicated, noisy transformations? This is everything you need to know about cicadas, including where in Georgia you’re most likely to see these insects.

Brood XIV in Georgia: Everything You Need to Know

Brood XIV is a periodical cicada brood, which means it emerges at predictable intervals. Cicadas are unique in the way they breed. Young nymphs spend their lives underground, feeding and growing until their cyclical emergence occurs. Once they break through the surface of the earth, cicadas spend their brief lives mating and laying their next generation.

Cicadas are a regular occurrence in Georgia. Annual cicadas fill summertime evenings with their songs. Their green coloration and large size make them easily identifiable. However, Brood XIV differs from Georgia’s annual cicadas in color; this brood will be a striking orange and black instead of green.

In fact, Brood XIV is special for many reasons, including how often this rare group of cicadas ventures above ground.

How Often Does Brood XIV Emerge?

Periodical cicadas, which are part of a cyclical brood, only emerge every 13 to 17 years, depending on the specific brood. This brood will not emerge again until 2042, which is one reason why scientists try to study them extensively while they are above ground. It has been 17 years since Brood XIV last emerged in 2008. While Georgia experienced trillions of cicadas in 2024 due to the emergence of Brood XIX, Brood XIV in 2025 is not expected to be quite as abundant.

When Will Brood XIV Appear in 2025?

Temperatures play a key role in cicada emergence. When soil consistently maintains a temperature of 64-67 degrees Fahrenheit, these insects know it’s safe to see the sunshine. Georgia’s average temperatures in late April and the month of May are ideal conditions for cicada broods to emerge. Like other periodical cicadas, Brood XIV will likely remain above ground for roughly 4-6 weeks. The cicada life cycle takes years, but these insects only live on the surface for a short time. Once they have mated and laid their eggs, adult cicadas die, leaving their tunnels and underground homes for the next generation.

Cicada Broods: What to Expect

Cicadas are fascinating for many reasons. Despite their large-scale brood emergence, which feels a tad biblical, cicadas are beneficial insects that cause very little damage to the areas they occupy for their brief mating period. In fact, cicadas often help with soil permeability and tree drainage, and they support wildlife as they die and provide sustenance for many other creatures.

However, there’s one thing cicadas are notorious for: their noise. Cicadas make three distinct sounds when they emerge. One call is for mating, one is if they are in distress, and the final sound occurs when the mating process is successful. 

When thousands (if not millions) of cicadas sing at the same time, it can get loud. Scientists have measured these insects screaming at decibels rivaling planes passing by overhead. Considering that Brood XIV is the second-largest cyclical cicada brood after Brood XIX, be prepared for some noise!

Brood XIV and Georgia: Where Will They Emerge?

Curious where specifically in Georgia Brood XIV might be sighted? Northeastern Georgia is the location where experts predict the brood will be concentrated. Here are some specific cities in Georgia that may experience higher cicada levels compared to other locations in the state.

Helen

Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and surrounded by natural wonders, Helen will be a likely spot for Brood XIV sightings. Cicadas use trees to lay their eggs, which is why Helen and its surrounding areas are attractive to these insects.

Gainesville

Gainesville, located not far from Atlanta and on the shores of Lake Lanier, may experience some of Brood XIV’s emergence due to its northern location in Georgia.

Athens

You may want to visit Athens this spring for its historic architecture and the potential for cicada sightings. Close to Gainesville, Athens is likely to see Brood XIV due to its proximity to forests and because it is home to the state’s botanical garden.

Augusta

Located on the border of Georgia and South Carolina, Augusta doesn’t always see cicadas due to its eastern location. However, Brood XIV may be sighted here, especially just beyond city boundaries.

Blue Ridge

A mountain town northwest of Helen and deeper into the Chattahoochee National Forest, Blue Ridge often sees cicadas. The timing of Brood XIV’s emergence will vary with elevation and local soil temperatures.