This State Will Be the Epicenter of This Year’s Cicada Emergence

Kentucky is about to get hit with massive numbers of periodical cicadas. Unlike the annual cicadas, periodical cicadas emerge from the ground every 13 or 17 years. The last time Brood XIV (otherwise known as the “Bourbon Brood”) was seen in Kentucky was in 2008, but this brood was first reported in 1634. When they emerge, the cicadas will arrive in droves and take over landscapes. Their sound reaches levels that can cause hearing loss when heard for extended periods. While some people dread their emergence, others are fascinated by this rare, natural phenomenon.

Which Kentucky Cities Will Get Hit the Hardest?

According to University of Kentucky entomologist Jonathan Larson, Kentucky will be the epicenter for the cicada emergence this spring. Maps show the biggest concentrations of cicadas to be in the central and eastern parts of the state. Cities like Lexington and Richmond are right in the middle of the emergence, although nearly the entire state is likely to be affected.

What Are Periodical Cicadas Versus Annual Cicadas?

There are over 3,000 species of cicadas around the world, with about 190 species living in North America. Despite the large number of species, there are two basic types of cicadas living in the U.S. These are annual cicadas and periodical cicadas. Annual cicadas emerge every summer, and their lifecycle is about two to three years. Periodical cicadas have synchronized life cycles, meaning they all emerge together either every 13 or 17 years.

What Brood is Expected in Kentucky This Year?

Periodical cicadas are identified by their brood, which is the group they emerge with. There are three 13-year cicada broods and 12 17-year cicada broods. The brood that is emerging this year is known as Brood XIV, which will appear in 12 states (Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia).

Brood XIV last emerged in 2008, and after 2025, it won’t be seen again until 2042. Occasionally, two broods emerge together, like in 2024, when the 17-year Brood XIII emerged at the same time as the 13-year Brood XIX.

How Long Do Periodical Cicadas Stick Around?

Periodical cicadas are only around for a short time above ground. The adults live above ground for about three to four weeks. They begin their lives as tiny eggs laid on small twigs. The eggs hatch as nymphs, fall to the ground, and burrow into the soil. There they live as nymphs for 13 or 17 years underground. After their final molt when they become adults, they tunnel through the ground, coming out in holes. You will know the cicadas have begun to emerge when you start to see holes appear underneath trees.

Once the cicadas emerge, they climb into trees and search for mates. They then begin their short lives above ground, where they feed and mate. The males sing to attract the females, and a large group of singing cicadas can be deafening.

What to Expect in 2025 in Kentucky

When the cicadas emerge, you will first begin to see holes in the ground under trees. Their nymph exoskeleton shells will appear left behind on tree trunks and other objects. Then the noises will begin as the males sing loudly in their search for mates, reaching 90 decibels or more. That’s about as loud as a lawn mower, power tool, or blender.

They will be in their highest numbers in wooded areas with established trees. This can be forests, but also tree-lined residential neighborhoods. While areas of new construction may have fewer cicadas emerge, older neighborhoods are sure to see them in high numbers.

Kentucky Cicadas Will Begin to Appear in May

Brood XIV will start to emerge from the ground when the weather warms up and the soil temperatures reach the mid-60s. Although experts can’t predict their exact arrival, you can expect it to occur around the second or third week of May.

Once the cicadas are above ground, it will then take a couple of weeks for the adults to emerge in large numbers. The massive crowds of cicadas will remain for around six weeks.

Are Cicadas Harmful to Gardens and Plants?

Some people may think of locusts when they hear the word cicadas, but unlike locusts, cicadas don’t decimate landscapes. Instead, cicadas feed on the sap of trees without much impact on the plant. Cicadas don’t sting or bite, and they can even be safely ingested by your pets without harm. Although pet experts recommend not letting your dog feast on too many cicadas, as their hard exoskeletons can cause gastrointestinal upset.

While cicadas won’t harm established plants and trees, when the females lay eggs in twigs, they can damage young trees. You can protect new trees by covering them with fine netting. Be sure to put your netting out in early spring before the cicadas begin to emerge.

What Are the Benefits of Cicadas?

Overall, the periodical cicadas will benefit Kentucky’s ecosystem in several ways. They provide an extra protein-rich meal to wildlife such as turkeys, snakes, and foxes. They also help aerate soil and let water drain more efficiently to tree roots. And finally, when they die, their bodies become a source of nitrogen for trees.

If you’d like to track the cicada emergence this year or report your own sightings, download the free Cicada Safari app from the Apple app store or Google play.