Empire State Review Team 
Cicadas Emerge in the U.S. This Spring
As winter gives way to warmer temperatures, the distinct sound of cicadas will soon be ringing through parts of the southeastern and Midwestern United States. This year, Brood XIV, a cohort of cicadas that appear every 17 years, will emerge, creating a buzz as they begin their seasonal courtship rituals.
The Lifecycle of Cicadas
The cicadas’ familiar buzzing is not merely a background noise; it plays a crucial role in their courtship. Male cicadas produce this sound to attract females, marking a significant moment in their multi-year life cycle. For Brood XIV, this emergence is an event that interconnects factors such as geography, seasonal changes, and weather patterns.
Emergence Timeline
Brood XIV cicadas are known to emerge every 17 years. The last significant emergence occurred during George W. Bush’s presidency, just before the launch of the App Store. This year’s emergence depends on several factors, particularly soil temperature and precipitation. According to Gene Kritsky, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University, cicadas typically emerge once the soil temperature reaches between 64°F and 65°F and after sufficient rainfall has soaked the ground.
The emergence will commence around the third week of April, particularly starting in northern Georgia, which often experiences the warmest conditions first. Following this, other regions will see cicadas appearing in a south-to-north pattern.
Emergence Process
Once they begin to emerge, cicadas take approximately two weeks to fully reach the surface. After six weeks living in trees, male cicadas will start their iconic buzzing five days after emergence. This chorusing will amplify as more cicadas join in, reaching sound levels of approximately 90 decibels, comparable to the noise of landing aircraft.
“The trees will just be screaming with all these males singing,” Kritsky noted. “The highest I’ve ever measured is 102 decibels.” This collective buzzing serves an essential purpose—as males compete for female attention.
Life After Emergence
After mating, female cicadas will lay their eggs in tree bark, at which point adult cicadas begin to die off, leading to a noticeable decrease in their buzzing around five weeks post-emergence. As the eggs hatch, nymphs will drop to the ground and burrow into the soil, beginning their 17-year life cycle by feeding on the roots of trees and grasses.
