It’s a Wrap! Periodical cicada Brood XIV (14) emerged in the spring of 2025 in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
New Jersey was a bust (no observances), experts decided to remove Maryland from the brood range, the first reported adult happened in Leicester, NC on 4/22, and Tennessee had the most observances.
Here’s what the emergence looked like over time, across the U.S. (includes a sprinkling of straggler data):
What:
Millions of these Magicicada cicada insects:
- Cicadas with a 17-year life cycle.
- Some people call them “locusts” but they’re really cicadas.
- Which species: All three 17-year species, Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassini and Magicicada septendecula. How to tell the difference between the species.
- NOT the green ones (Neotibicen) that arrive annually.
When:
Usually beginning in May and ending in late June. These cicadas emerge approximately when the soil 8″ beneath the ground reaches approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Above ground temperatures in the 70’s-80’s help warm the soil to that point. A warm rain will often trigger an emergence.
Other tips: these cicadas will emerge after the trees have grown leaves, and, according to my own observation, around the same time Iris flowers bloom.
Where*:
Georgia: iNaturalist Live Map (22 Observations). Counties: Fannin, Lumpkin, Rabun, Union. Cicadas have been reported using the Cicada Safari app in the Lake Burton area. Update: the emergence is underway.
Georgia’s populations are difficult to access. I have heard that Magicicada septendecula dominate. Update: just nymphs reported so far, but I bet adults have emerged.
Indiana: iNaturalist Live Map (105 Observations). We’re talking the southern part of Indiana, by the Ohio River. Counties: Crawford, Harrison, Perry. The first reported adult cicadas were found in Corydon on 5/16. Update: the emergence is underway.
Kentucky: iNaturalist Live Map (1,413 Observations). We’re talking most of Kentucky east of U.S. Route 41, with major hot-spots along the Ohio river. Counties: Anderson, Barren, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Campbell, Carter, Clinton, Edmonson, Fayette, Franklin, Floyd, Gallatin, Grant, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, LaRue, Laurel, Leslie, Logan, Madison, McCreary, Montgomery, Nelson, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pike, Pulaski, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Whitley. Cities: Adairville, Bowling Green, Corbin, Flemingsburg, Frankfort, Greensburg, Hazard, Jeffersontown (J-Town), Louisville, Radcliff, Richmond, Valley Station. The first reported adult cicada was found in Whitley City, KY on 5/2. Update: the emergence is underway.
Massachusetts: iNaturalist Live Map (1,235 Observations). Counties: Barnstable, Plymouth. Locations: (western half of) Cape Cod. The first reported adult cicadas were found in Sandwich on 5/17. Update: the emergence is underway.
New Jersey: iNaturalist Live Map (0 Observations). We’re talking southern New Jersey, where the Jersey Devil lives (he might have ate them all up). Counties: Atlantic, Camden, Ocean. Cities: Linwood, Manchester Township, Winslow Township. Update: nothing yet, just a Brood X straggler in Princeton.
New Jersey’s population may have gone extinct. đ
New York: iNaturalist Live Map (129 Observations). We’re talking Long Island. Counties: Nassau, Suffolk. New York cities: East Setauket and Dix Hills (thanks Elias Bonaros). The first reported adult cicadas were found in Coram and Setauket on 5/15. Update: the emergence is underway.
Here’s a Facebook group for Long Island Cicadas.
North Carolina: iNaturalist Live Map (1,351 Observations). We’re talking western North Carolina, particularly areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. It will be interesting to see if the cicadas were impacted as well, as flooding may have washed away their underground tunnels and habitat. Counties: Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Henderson, McDowell, Mitchell, Wilkes. North Carolina cities: Asheville, Haw Creek, East Asheville, Moravian Falls, north-west of Nashville, Wilkesboro. The first reported adult cicada was found in Leicester, NC on 4/22. Update: the emergence is underway.
Ohio: iNaturalist Live Map (1,402 Observations). We’re talking south-western Ohio, with the hottest spots just east of Cincinnati. This is the homeland of cicada-experts Gene Kritsky and Roy Troutman, and world-famous botanist Matt Berger. Counties: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Gallia, Hamilton, Highland, Ross, Warren. Cities: Batavia, Blue Ash, Cincinnati area, Indian Hill, Loveland, Maderia, Mariemont, Milford, Miami Twp. The first reported adult cicadas were found in Rio Grande and Bainbridge on 5/8. Update: the emergence is underway.
Roy Troutman let us know that some cicadas where still emerging up until July 1st. Heaving flooding earlier in the year may have delayed their emergence, due to reluctance to emerge from the safety of their water-proof cells.
Pennsylvania: iNaturalist Live Map (647 Observations). We’re talking central Pennsylvania, and random locations toward the east.Adams, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union. Pennsylvania cities: Bear Gap, Elverson. The first reported adult cicada was found in Morgantown on 5/8.
Tennessee: iNaturalist Live Map (1,640 Observations). We’re talking north of Nashville, north-west of Chattanooga and in random places in the eastern half of the state. Counties: Bledsoe, Blount, Campbell, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Cocke, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, Grainger, Grundy, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Marion, Putnam, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Sevier, Sumner, Unicoi, Williamson. Cities: Cades Cove, Goodlettsville, Hampton, Muddy Pond. The first reported adult cicada was found in Nashville on 4/25. Update: the emergence is underway.
Virginia: iNaturalist Live Map (205 Observations). We’re talking western Virginia, and mostly the part tucked under Kentucky. Counties: Botetourt, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Wise. The first reported adult cicada was found in near Campbell on 4/25. Update: the emergence is underway. Brood X stragglers are emerging near D.C.
West Virginia: iNaturalist Live Map (139 Observations). We’re talking the area west of Interstate 77 (I-77), bordered by Kentucky and Ohio. Counties: Cabell, Kanawha, Mason, Mingo, Putnam, Wyoming. West Virginia cities: Huntington. The first reported adult cicada was found in in Panther State Forest on 5/4. Update: the emergence is underway.
*City data comes from May 2008 and June 2008 blog comments. County locations are historical and may no-longer be accurate.
Experts (Gaye Williams, State Entomologist of Maryland, John Cooley of UCONN) have confirmed that there will be no Brood XIV cicadas for Maryland. That said, there will be some stragglers from Brood X. You can look for reports of stragglers using this iNaturalist map.
More Maps and Location Tips!
- Cicadas @ UCONN has the most up to date maps. Zoom in and look for the images of cicadas.
- Try Dr. Gene Kritsky’s new book: The Pilgrimsâ Promise: The 2025 Emergence of the Periodical Cicada Brood XIV
- Not sure about your town? Ask someone in your community who lived there 17 years ago.
- Join the Magicicada 2025 Brood XIV project on iNaturalist.com.
- Download the Cicada Safari App and find and report cicadas.
- View the latest posts from the Cicada Safari App on a map!
* Although county locations may no longer be accurate, I like to keep them on the page in case someone discovers a small, secret or unknown population of these cicadas. People might be disappointed, but we want to know for sure that the cicadas are (or are not) thriving in historical locations. This is the cicada researcher’s dilemma: either focus on the guaranteed/sure shot locations for the general public to enjoy, or include the obscure, relic locations so we do not miss out on rare cicada sightings. Cicadas @ UCONN talks about the relationship between the different broods — Brood XIV and Brood X are closely related geographically and genetically. You might find a Brood X straggler emerging 4 years late, and mistake it for Brood XIV. If a large number (large enough to sustain future emergences) of Brood X makes the 4-year “JUMP” to be in synch with Brood XIV, they technically become Brood XIV (and the reverse is true).
Got Massospora?
Have you seen any cicadas with Massospora infections. Professor Matt Kasson of WVU wants your Massospora-infected Magicicada cassini and septendecula cicadas (but not septendecim). Email mtkasson@mail.wvu.edu if you have one to share!
2025 Map… so far (5/27)
Dr. Gene Kritsky of the creator of the Cicada Safari app sent us this map of 2025 Magicicada emergences to date. It contains both Brood XIV and stragglers from other broods.
1907 Map
This map comes from the 1907 publication Marlatt, C.L. 1907. The periodical cicada. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology.
Here is a map of all Broods from the Cicadas @ UCONN site
Zoom in and click the pins to see which Brood it represents. Brood XIV is green. (May not work on older devices.)
More facts and fun:
- Use the correct image and the correct language when talking about these cicadas. Here’s some images you can share.
- Use the Periodical Cicada Emergence Checklist for the Maximum Magicicada Experience.
- All cicada questions that are frequently asked.
- The 17 Most Interesting Periodical cicada facts.
- Cicada Mania Crossword Puzzle. It isn’t easy.
