The Great Cape Cod Cicada Comeback: 17 Years in the Making!
This year, parts of Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts will experience a once-in-a-generation event—the emergence of Brood XIV periodical cicadas! The last time they showed up was 2008, and now, after 17 years underground, they’re back to make some noise.
What Are Periodical Cicadas?
Periodical cicadas are unique insects that only appear once every 13 or 17 years. They’re different from the cicadas you hear every summer. These special cicadas:
- Are about 1.5 inches long, with red-orange eyes and black bodies
- Only live in eastern North America—nowhere else in the world
- Emerge in huge numbers all at once
Scientists group cicadas into “broods” and use Roman numerals to track them. Brood XIV will emerge in parts of Cape Cod in May and June 2025. If you live on the upper or mid-Cape, you’ll likely see the biggest cicada invasion!
The Cicada Life Cycle: 17 Years Underground
Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on tree roots. After 17 years, they dig their way to the surface, shed their skins, and transform into buzzing adults. Here’s what happens next:
1️⃣ Late May – Early June: Cicadas emerge and molt into adults.
2️⃣ Early Summer: Males create loud buzzing sounds (up to 100 decibels—like a lawnmower!) to attract females.
3️⃣ Mid-Summer: Females lay eggs inside twigs of trees.
4️⃣ Late Summer: Eggs hatch, and tiny nymphs drop to the ground, burrowing underground for another 17 years.
Adults only live 3–4 weeks before they die, making their time above ground short but LOUD.
Do Cicadas Harm Plants?
Cicadas do not eat plants, but they can damage young trees when females lay eggs inside small branches. This can cause “flagging,” where twigs turn brown and die.
How to protect young trees:
- Use netting with small holes (1 cm or less) by mid-May
- Avoid planting new trees until after cicadas are gone
- Don’t use pesticides—they’re not very effective against cicadas
Mature trees can handle the cicada invasion just fine, but young trees might need some protection.
Are Cicadas a Threat to People or Pets?
Nope! Cicadas:
❌ Don’t bite or sting
❌ Aren’t poisonous
❌ Are terrible fliers (you may get one in your hair, though!)
The biggest annoyance? The noise. Male cicadas buzz the loudest on hot, sunny days. Also, their old exoskeletons will pile up on trees, decks, and driveways—kind of messy, but harmless.
If you have pets, keep an eye on them. Eating a cicada or two is fine, but too many could cause an upset stomach.
Cicadas Help the Environment
Even though they can be noisy and a little messy, cicadas actually benefit the ecosystem by:
✔️ Providing food for birds, fish, and other wildlife
✔️ Enriching the soil when they die and decompose
✔️ Helping forests grow by naturally pruning trees
Learn More!
Want more cicada details? Check out these resources:
📄 Technical Fact Sheet (2-page) – A deep dive into cicada biology, life cycle, and impact.
📄 Quick Fact Sheet (1-page) – A simple, easy-to-read guide with key cicada facts.
Share Your Cicada Sightings!
If you see cicadas in your area, help scientists track them! Take photos and upload them to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ iNaturalist project.
Have Questions? Need Help?
If you need assistance managing cicadas or protecting your trees, click here for the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Horticulture Clinic.
Get ready, Cape Cod—the cicadas are coming! Will they be impressed with how much has changed in 17 years? Probably not. But they will make sure you hear them loud and clear!
