Everything You Need to Know About Cicadas 2021

Why Do Cicadas Only Come Out Every 17 Years?
Chris Alcock/Shutterstock.com

Written by Heather Hall

Updated: September 21, 2022

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Key Points:
  • Brood X is a group of cicadas slated to come out of hiding in the Spring of 2021 in parts of the United States. This type of cicada emerges every 17 years to mate and reproduce.
  • Brood X cicadas don’t pose a threat to humans or plants in general. They drink the liquids from inside of plants rather than the leaves, so could only potentially harm newly planted vegetation.
  • Brood X cicadas will emerge in varying numbers in the states of Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, New York, and Georgia, as well as the District of Columbia.

Cicadas are all the chatter in states like Tennessee, Washington, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Even parts of New York are expected to see the emergence of these pesky insects for the first time in 17 years. If you’re wondering about the impact cicadas may have on your life — and on your animals’ lives — you’ve come to the right place. Here is everything you need to know about the Brood X cicadas that are emerging in 2021.

Update on the 2021 Brood X

To recap what actually became of the Brood X frenzy, they emerged in April and were gone by the end of June, leaving a legacy of noise, mating, reproduction, death, food for other animals, and media excitement. An app called Cicada Safari helped researchers and average US citizens track encounters with Brood X. In total, over 196,000 people downloaded the app, and shared over 560,000 photographs and 28,000 videos. It’s safe to surmise that this Brood made history as the most documented of all time. Here’s a fun look at what happened when the Brood X cicadas emerged with interesting film footage.

Up Next…

  • Ladybug vs Japanese Beetle: What are the Differences? How does the ladybug compare to the Japanese beetle? Learn more in this fascinating read.
  • Cicadas Lifespan: How Long Do Cicadas Live? Find out more about the amazing life span of the cicada in this article.
  • Are Insects Animals? Ever wondered if insects are technically classified as animals or not? Let’s dive into the topic and answer that question.


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About the Author

Heather Hall

Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.

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