Millions of Cicadas Will Emerge Across the US This Summer—Here's How to Prepare for Them

It's almost cicada season! While 2024 was a record-breaking year for these insects, this year's forecast is relatively standard. A single periodical brood of buzzy cicadas will appear soon, emerging for the first time in 17 years.

Last year's cicada emergence, which was coined "cicada-geddon," was the result of two broods of periodical cicadas emerging in the same year in overlapping territories. According to Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist with Mosquito Squad Plus, the Great Eastern Brood, or Brood XIV, will be the only periodical brood to takeover yards this season.

What Are Periodical Cicadas?

Unlike annual cicadas, which appear every year, periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years. They are moderately sized bugs with black bodies and red eyes, usually about an inch long. Periodical cicadas have a shorter and earlier emergence than annual cicadas, typically emerging in late April or early May and dying out by late May or early June, Crumbley says. Annual cicadas usually peak from June to August, she adds.

Where to Expect Brood XIV

Although researchers can't be certain of where exactly they'll appear, broods tend to emerge where they'd last been seen. That's because periodical cicadas typically lay their eggs in or near the areas where they are.

Brood XIV, which last emerged in 2008, is set to rise across the eastern U.S. soon and is expected to swarm parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. Experts also predict this brood will appear in smaller quantities in various spots along the East Coast, from Massachusetts and New York, down to western Georgia.

How to Protect Your Yard and Home From Cicadas

Fortunately, cicadas aren't dangerous to humans or pets. They don't bite or sting and aren't poisonous or venomous. While they don't eat leaves, flowers, fruits, herbs, or vegetables, they can harm young trees since they cut grooves into branches to lay eggs. Oak, maple, willow, and ash trees are most susceptible to cicada damage, Crumbley says. Here are some ways she recommends protecting your yard from these insects:

Cover Sensitive Plants

To protect your backyard landscaping from damage, Crumbley recommends adding nets or coverings over sensitive plants. "Adding a physical barrier around your plants like a fine mesh net or breathable fabric can make it harder for cicadas to feed on or lay their eggs in plants," she says. "This method is widely adopted by orchards that need to protect fruit tree saplings and younger trees."

Wrap Tree Trunks

She also recommends wrapping tree trunks with adhesive. "Cicadas will emerge from the soil as nymphs and climb nearby trees, posts, or other vertical structures to anchor themselves as they molt," she says. To proactively get a hold of a cicada problem, add glue traps around trees to catch cicadas before they can molt.

Move Plants Inside

Another suggestion is to move plants indoors if possible. "If you have potted plants you are concerned about, consider moving them inside during May," Crumbley says. Most garden plants will be unaffected by cicadas, but small trees or woody herbs may experience damage when adults are feeding. "Once cicada season is over, you can reintroduce these plants to your garden," she says. 

Seal Windows and Doors

Home infestation usually isn't a problem because cicadas are large, chunky insects. "Unlike ants, flies, or roaches, they cannot use small cracks and crevices to get into your home," Crumbley says. But she advises homeowners to seal their windows and doors properly because cicadas can enter your home through large holes or gaps. If you want to open doors or windows during cicada season, consider installing a mesh screen to prevent them from getting inside.

Should You Use Pesticides on Cicadas?

It's best not to use pesticides against cicadas because improper application or over-application can damage grasses and plants. "Unless a pesticide is sprayed directly on a resting cicada, pesticides will not be effective for control," Crumbley says. "Many pest control companies won't offer cicada control as it's difficult to achieve success, and it would mean using more chemicals than necessary for an insect that is always on the move and only lives a few weeks."