Virginia’s Deafening Swarm is Coming—BILLIONS of Cicadas Set to Invade This Spring!
Billions of Brood XIV cicadas, emerging every 17 years, will fill Virginia’s air with a 90-decibel buzz—starting soon! 🌐 #News #RichmondVA #Virginia #Science
RICHMOND, VA — This spring, billions of Brood XIV cicadas will emerge across multiple states, including Virginia, marking their first appearance since 2008—when George W. Bush was nearing the end of his presidency and Apple was about to launch the App Store. The phenomenon, occurring every 17 years, will bring a chorus of buzzing to the South and Northeast, with Virginia among the states preparing for the spectacle.
A 17-Year Cycle Awakens
Brood XIV, comprising three 17-year-cycle species—Magicicada septendecim, Magicicada cassini, and Magicicada septendecula—lives underground for 17 years before surfacing. The cicadas emerge when soil temperatures reach 64 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, typically after spring rains soak the ground.
A Two-Week Emergence and Six-Week Stay
Once cicadas begin emerging in an area, the process spans two weeks as billions climb from the soil. After surfacing, they live in trees for six weeks. Within five days above ground, male cicadas start their buzzing courtship ritual to attract females, a sound that grows louder over two weeks. The noise, often reaching 90 decibels and peaking at 102 decibels, surpasses the roar of planes landing at Dulles airport. After mating, females lay eggs in trees, and the buzzing fades about five weeks post-emergence as adult cicadas die.
A Natural Cycle Continues
The cycle repeats as cicada nymphs hatch from eggs, drop to the ground, and burrow into the soil. There, they feed on grass and tree roots for 17 years, awaiting the next emergence. Gene Kritsky, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, has studied this phenomenon extensively, providing insights into the cicadas’ predictable patterns.
Regional Timeline Unfolds
The emergence follows a clear sequence based on last year’s patterns. Tennessee expects cicadas in the fourth week of April, followed by Kentucky in the first week of May. Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia will see cicadas in the second week of May, with Massachusetts closing out the cycle in late May. This staggered timeline ensures a prolonged natural event across the affected regions.
Nature’s Resounding Finale
As Brood XIV cicadas prepare to fill Virginia’s skies with their resounding buzz this spring, residents across the South and Northeast can anticipate a remarkable natural spectacle. From their emergence in mid-May to their six-week treetop serenade, these cicadas will mark a rare 17-year cycle, leaving behind eggs for the next generation. By late June, the buzzing will fade, but the event will linger as a striking display of nature’s rhythm, and it will return again—in 2042!
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