Ohio’s Cicada Invasion—BILLIONS Will Swarm This Spring!

Billions of cicadas will erupt from the soil across Ohio and beyond this spring, filling the air with a deafening 102-decibel buzz. 🌐 #News #ColumbusOH #Ohio #Science

COLUMBUS, OH — Spring in Ohio promises to be anything but quiet this year, as billions of cicadas from Brood XIV prepare to emerge from the ground in a natural spectacle not seen since George W. Bush was nearing the end of his presidency and Apple was about to launch the App Store. Here in Columbus, Ohio, and across multiple states, these noisy insects will surface en masse, marking their first appearance in 17 years.

A 17-Year Wait Nears Its End

Brood XIV cicadas, which include the species Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassini, and Magicicada septendecula, have been biding their time underground since 2008. These creatures spend 17 years feeding off grass and tree roots as nymphs before clawing their way to the surface.

The trigger? Soil temperatures hitting between 64 and 65 degrees, softened by spring rains, with Ohio’s emergence slated for the second week of May.

The Emergence Wave

The cicada takeover will unfold in a predictable sequence, based on last year’s patterns. Tennessee will hear the first hums in the fourth week of April, followed by Kentucky in the first week of May. By the second week of May, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania will join the chorus, with Massachusetts rounding out the event in late May.

Once they begin in any area, it takes two full weeks for all the cicadas to emerge, transforming backyards and forests into a living soundtrack.

A Buzz Louder Than Jet Engines

Male cicadas waste no time after surfacing—within five days, they start their buzzing courtship ritual to attract females. The sound grows louder over two weeks as more join in, reaching a peak that can hit 102 decibels, though 90 decibels is more common. For context, that’s louder than planes landing at the airport.

The noise will pulse through trees for six weeks, where the cicadas live, mate, and eventually die off. Five weeks after the first emergence, the buzzing will fade as the adults perish.

The Next Generation Takes Root

Female cicadas, after mating, lay their eggs in tree branches. Once hatched, the nymphs drop to the ground, burrow into the soil, and begin their 17-year subterranean journey anew.

Gene Kritsky, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, has tracked these cycles for years, offering insight into this remarkable event.

Brace for Six Weeks of Nature’s Symphony

For Ohioans, the cicadas’ arrival means six weeks of living with one of nature’s loudest performances. From mid-May to late June, the state—along with its neighbors—will be abuzz with Brood XIV’s fleeting, noisy reign. Love them or dread them, these cicadas are back, right on schedule.

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