Looks like there is a new sub-species of Megatibicen pronotalis, to go with Megatibicen pronotalis pronotalis (Davis, 1938) and Megatibicen pronotalis walkeri (Metcalf, 1955) called Megatibicen pronotalis hesperiu. I am going to guess that ‘hesperiu’ refers to the Greek word for evening or western. If it’s western, maybe the hesperiu is an offshoot of M. pronotalis pronotalis.
Looking at data from Google Trends(columns) and iNaturalist(lines), it looks like 2024 will be the best year in over ten years, with 2020, 2017 and 2013 being peak years (but not the biggest). iNaturalist is also a relatively new app/website; my guess is its user base wasn’t big enough until 2019 to compare to Google Trends.
While some Green Grocers appear every year, there is a periodicity at play. With the little data below it would seem there are two 7 year groups: one 2013 to 2020, and one 2017 to 2024. I’m making assumptions.
If my boss fires me tomorrow, I’m headed to Australia.
Most of my cicada experience happens in the state of New Jersey, particularly central New Jersey (which does exist: it is comprised of Middlesex, Sommerset, Hunterdon and Mercer counties). Typically, in central and northern New Jersey, the summer cicada season will kick off in late June with the emergence of Neotibicen lyricen and end with the grinding calls of Neotibicen canicularis in the middle of September. Central New Jersey has these annual cicada species: Neotibicen lyricen (both sub-species), Neotibicen linnei, Neotibicen tibicen, Neotibicen winnemanna, Neotibicen canicularis, and possibly Megatibicen grossus in the south, and Okanagana rimosa in the north-west. Periodical cicadas are also found in the area, but not in the summer, and not in 2024.
Neotibicen tibicen aka Morning Cicadas (most call them Swamp Cicadas — I do not because it is not a helpful description) are abundant in my location and do well with both Spruce and Maple trees.
The summer of 2024 was a strange one:
I didn’t find my first Morning (Neotibicen tibicen tibicen) cicada until July 7th (about a week late), found my last one on August 9th (about two weeks early).
The last cicada I heard sing was during the last week of August, about two weeks early.
June high temperatures were 5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than average (avg. 1991-2020), and there was 30% less precipitation. A HOT and DRY start.
July high temperatures were 2 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than average (avg. 1991-2020), and there was 20% less precipitation. A hot and DRY mid-season.
August high temps were flat, but there was +51% more precipitation. Average temperatures, and wet finale.
Neotibicen cicadas are around every where, but there are good years and great years. 2024 was not great. I don’t know if the extra HOT and dry weather had an impact, but it may have. Lots of “maybes”.
Here’s some photos of molting Neotibicen tibicen for you to enjoy:
Bladder Cicadas are out in Australia, as reported by Ben McBurney on the Facebook Cicada Science & Discussion group.
Bladder Cicadas are green, sing at night, and have large abdomens. Are they katydid mimics, or just filling the same niche? Seems like it. According to Ben they sound like frogs, so maybe they’re frog mimics as well.
How rare are Magicicadas cicadas with white or blue eyes?
Do we include yellowish-white/cream-colored eyes? Gray eyes?
“One in a million!”
“One in 100,000?”
“One in 1000”?
Let’s look at some data. Since its beginning, as of June 19th, 2024, iNaturalist has had 27,294 Research Grade Magicicada sightings, and 136 Research Grade “Magicicada eye color=blue/white” cicadas. So, in the iNaturalist data set, one in 201 Magicicada have white or blue eyes.
The number of white/blue eyed Magicicada is without a doubt more than one in 201, but not one in a million. Personally, I’ve found at least one cicada with white or blue eyes per emergence. My guess is the number is closer to one in 10,000.
But don’t tell anyone who is excited about a one in a million find. Let them have their fun and happiness. 🙂
As I write this, the Brood XIX emergence is all but over, and Brood XIII has about two weeks left to go.
So what’s next? Well, I’ll tell you.
Upload your photos to iNaturalist and the Cicada Safari app
You can help cicada researchers by uploading your photos to iNaturalist or the Cicada Safari app.
iNaturalist is excellent for all animals — plus plants and fungi — not just cicadas. You will find yourself using it all year long. Cicada Safari is specifically for cicadas.
Learn about Annual species of cicadas
There are more to cicadas that just Periodical cicadas.
Cicadas exist on every continent except for Antarctica, and in every State in the U.S. except for Hawaii and Alaska!
Saving cicada skins (molts/shells) and wings is easy. Just keep them dry.
Preserving Periodical cicadas can be challenging because their eye colors fade and because they’re fatty and smell.
If you want to preserve eye colors, keeping them in alcohol seems to work best.
Some people dip them in acetone to mitigate the smell from decaying fat, but I’ve never tried it.
Otherwise, keep them dry and in a cedar box. I use silica gel packs to keep them dry. Cedar repels small insects that will eat your cicada collection. Moth balls work as well to keep tiny insects away from your collection.
If you want to pin your cicadas, so the wings are spread out, you have to do it while the cicadas are still moist. Plenty of places have supplies, like Carolina Biological Supply. I’ve softened hard cicadas by placing them in Tupperware/Rubbermaid containers with moist paper towels and a moth ball to prevent mold.
Make a scrapbook of your cicada memories
Make a scrapbook or photo album of your cicada memories.
This is something I do every year, though I tend to mix it up with non-cicada photos as well.
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):
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.
Merch
Made it this far? Support the site and buy some merch, like this shirt (with a design on the back too):
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. 🙁
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.
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.
* 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!
People ask, “Can periodical cicada singing damage hearing”? It all depends on how long you expose yourself to their song, and how close your ears are to the insect. Invest in some quality ear plugs if you are concerned. Consult a medical professional, of course. Get a Sound Level Meter.
Periodical cicada choruses are often in the 80–85db range, which the CDC says “You may feel very annoyed” and “Damage to hearing possible after 2 hours of exposure”:
If you spend a long time outside during a chorus, your ears will probably ring for hours after. That is my personal experience.
Placed directly on a microphone, I have observed periodical cicadas get as loud as 111.4db. According to the CDC, that is close enough to cause hearing damage in less than 2 minutes. Do not place male cicadas on your ear! Do not put your head right next to the tree branches where they’re singing.
Check out this video of Magicicada sound levels measured by an EXTECH 407730 Sound Level Meter:
How to avoid hearing them?
Stay indoors
Buy earplugs or headphones that block external sound
Avoid their peak singing times, between 10 am and 5 pm. Before 10 am and after 5 pm are also the best times to do yard work to avoid them.
I’ve exposed myself to hundreds of hours of cicada songs. I’ve also gone to hundreds of concerts and listened to a lot of rowdy music over the years. My hearing is not great, but it is probably not due to cicadas.
It is worth mentioning that only male cicadas sing. Females make noise by flicking their wings, but they are not as loud as the males. Males have organs called tymbals that vibrate creating their signature sound.
Here are illustrations and a photo of a Magicicada’s tymbals. They have one on each side of their body:
So what is the loudest cicada? According to the University of Florida Insect Book of World Records, “The African cicada, Brevisana brevis (Homoptera: Cicadidae) produces a calling song with a mean sound pressure level of 106.7 decibels at a distance of 50cm.” The loudest cicada in the United States, using the same methodology, is Diceroprocta apache (Davis) at 106.2db at 50cm.
I need to take measurements of Magicicada from 50cm to make a comparison. The measurements I’ve taken are in the midst of a large chorus with cicadas about a meter to 20 meters away, which falls in the 80-85db range; or directly on the mic, which gets into the 109-111db range. Your results may vary.
Green Grocer Cicada image by Bron.
