Brood XIV Cicadas Emerge Across U.S. This Spring

In spring 2025, Brood XIV, one of the largest periodical cicada groups in the U.S., is emerging after 17 years underground, impacting areas from Tennessee and Kentucky to Massachusetts and Long Island. The cicadas surface when soil temperatures reach about 64 degrees Fahrenheit, typically in late April in the South and late May or early June farther north. Experts anticipate billions of these red-eyed, black-bodied insects—up to 1.5 million per acre in some hotspots—will create a deafening chorus for several weeks as males call for mates. The adults live only a few weeks above ground, during which females lay eggs in tree branches; the resulting larvae will burrow back into the ground until 2042. While cicadas do not harm humans or pets, their egg-laying can damage young trees, so protective measures are recommended for saplings. Despite their overwhelming presence, cicadas provide a vital food source for wildlife and contribute to ecosystem balance.