The iconic cicadas are set to return in the US this year, with experts predicting a less overwhelming emergence than last spring’s record-breaking event. Brood XIV, the second-largest group of periodical cicadas, will be the only one to emerge this spring, according to University of Connecticut researchers.
While it’s unclear exactly when the cicadas will appear in 2025, they typically show up in May and last through June, as they mature, mate, lay eggs, and die. Climate change has also been affecting their arrival timing, with last year’s return starting two weeks ahead of schedule in Georgia.
Historically, Brood XIV cicadas are found in areas including north Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, southern Indiana and Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. However, their population is declining on Long Island, and distributions are shifting in southwestern Ohio and southeastern Indiana.
It’s challenging to estimate the cicada population, but experts predict hundreds of trillions of cicadas could emerge this spring. While the numbers may seem extreme, the cicadas won’t all be present at the same time. Researchers will map and study the 2025 emergence to address knowledge gaps about their patterns.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cicadas-brood-xiv-come-back-2025