Cicada Season Explained: Life Cycles, Timing, and What to Expect

Rarely seen synchronized emergence reveals nature's clever survival strategy.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 25, 2025

Rarely seen synchronized emergence reveals nature's clever survival strategy.

Cicada emergence remains one of nature’s most spectacular, yet perplexing, phenomena. Every year, or sometimes every 13 or 17 years depending on the species, these noisy insects surface en masse out of the ground to confuse, annoy, fascinate, and sometimes even frighten people living across North America. But when exactly will cicadas go away, why do they come above ground in such huge numbers, and what happens when the chirping finally stops? This comprehensive guide answers all your cicada questions based on expert biology and entomology resources.

What Are Cicadas and Why Do They Emerge in Cycles?

Cicadas are flying insects known for their large size, bulging eyes, transparent veined wings, and the intense, buzzing sound produced mainly by males during mating season. North American cicada species fall into two primary categories:

Annual (Dog-Day) Cicadas: Emerge every year, have life cycles of 2 to 5 years but staggered emergence makes them visible annually.
Periodical Cicadas: Belong to the genus Magicicada and have fixed, synchronized 13- or 17-year underground life cycles. These species are responsible for the dramatic, infrequent cicada events.

Why Are Cicada Emergences So Massive?

Periodical cicadas spend most of their lives as nymphs underground, emerging simultaneously across wide regions in overwhelming numbers to increase their chances of survival. This genetic adaptation, known as “predator satiation,” means predators can’t possibly eat all the cicadas at once, so enough survive to reproduce and continue the species.

Understanding the Cicada Life Cycle

The typical life cycle of a cicada, especially the periodical species, is a marvel of evolutionary timing and ecological balance. The process can span from 1 year (for some Australian species) to as much as 21 years in rare cases, but for North American periodical cicadas, it’s usually 13 or 17 years.

The Three Stages of the Cicada Life Cycle

Egg Stage: Female cicadas cut slits into small twigs and branches, depositing up to 500 eggs in total during their short adult life. Each slit (called a nest) can house 20–30 rice-shaped eggs. While this process may create visible brown «flagging» (dead leaf clusters at branch ends), it rarely causes significant harm to mature trees.
Nymph Stage: Eggs hatch after 6–10 weeks. The tiny nymphs fall to the ground, burrow into the soil, and begin sucking sap from plant and tree roots. Cicada nymphs pass through five developmental stages called instars underground, sometimes at depths of more than a foot.
Adult Stage: When the ground temperature reaches a critical threshold (about 64°F/18°C), nymphs emerge from the soil, climb nearby structures, and shed their exoskeletons. The winged adults then fly, sing, and begin the mating process. This above-ground phase is brief: periodical cicadas live only about 2 to 6 weeks as adults, just long enough to mate and lay eggs before dying.

Life Cycle Comparison Table

Life Stage	Duration	Description
Egg	6–10 weeks	Laid in tree branches; hatch and drop to soil
Nymph	2 to 17 years (species-dependent)	Burrow & feed on root sap underground, progress through 5 instars
Adult	About 2–6 weeks	Above ground for mating, song, egg-laying, then death

When Do Cicadas Emerge—and When Will They Go Away?

The timing of cicada emergence depends on the species and the region. Annual cicadas appear later in summer, but periodical cicadas synchronize their emergence every 13 or 17 years across large areas.

Emergence Period: Most periodical cicada broods emerge when soil temperatures at 8 inches depth reach about 64°F (18°C). Depending on climate, emergence typically occurs from late April through June with regional variation.
Duration Above Ground: The mass emergence lasts 4–6 weeks. The cacophony begins to fade as the mating season wraps up and the adult insects die, usually by early July.
End of Cicada Season: Once mating and egg-laying finish, the adults quickly die off. The eggs hatch later in the summer, starting the underground phase for the next generation. It’s very rare to see cicadas active beyond midsummer.

Key Points About Cicada Season:

Cicada noise and activity peaks within 1–2 weeks of emergence.
The entire period lasts just over a month for any locality experiencing an emergence.
After this window, you’ll only see leftover exoskeletons and maybe some brown «flagging» on trees.

What Happens After Cicadas Disappear?

When cicadas are gone, there are usually no major lingering negative effects on lawns, trees, or gardens. Some aftermath worth noting:

Tree Flagging: Small twigs may have dead leaves where females laid eggs, but matured trees recover easily.
Exoskeletons: The shed nymph shells (exuviae) can be found clinging to surfaces. They decompose or can be swept away easily.
Young Trees: Saplings or very young trees might experience temporary minor stress; rare for substantial harm or loss of mature trees to be caused by cicadas.
Soil Fertility: Decomposing bodies and exoskeletons enrich the soil with nutrients.

You should see little to no evidence of cicadas a couple of months after their departure, aside from increased nutrient cycling in your yard.

Cicada Myths and Fascinating Facts

Cicadas do not bite or sting humans—they only possess mouths for plant sap.
They are not “locusts” (which are grasshoppers); cicadas are a separate group of insects in Hemiptera.
The periodical 17-year cicadas are native almost exclusively to the eastern United States.
Each cicada species has a unique song for mate attraction; male cicadas produce the sound using structures called tymbals.
Some regions experience simultaneous emergences of multiple broods, creating extremely dense populations.
Periodical cicadas constitute just 0.2% of the world’s cicada species.

How to Cope with Cicada Season

While the sound may be loud and the sheer number unexpected, cicadas are generally harmless. Here are some practical tips:

Keep windows and doors closed to reduce indoor sound.
Postpone young or newly planted trees if a large emergence year is expected.
Cover small or sensitive plants with netting during high-risk egg-laying weeks.
Remove fallen exoskeletons from outdoor seating areas as needed.
Use the occurrence as an educational opportunity—cicada emergences offer a great way to teach kids about insect life cycles and adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cicadas

Q: When will the cicadas go away?

A: Cicada season lasts approximately 4–6 weeks after the initial mass emergence. Most adults die off and the noise ends by late June or early July, depending on location and the weather.

Q: Are cicadas dangerous or do they damage plants?

A: Cicadas do not sting or bite humans or animals. While their egg-laying can cause brown tips or «flagging» on tree branches, mature trees and shrubs are rarely harmed. Young saplings may be more susceptible and can be protected with mesh.

Q: Why are there so many cicadas at once?

A: The synchronized, massive emergence is a strategy to overwhelm natural predators (birds, mammals). This “predator satiation” means that, despite heavy predation, enough cicadas survive to successfully reproduce.

Q: How long do cicadas live?

A: The longest-lived cicadas are periodical species with life cycles of 13 or 17 years spent as nymphs underground. However, once above ground, adults typically live just 2 to 6 weeks.

Q: Will I see cicadas every year?

A: Annual cicadas appear each year in late summer, but the dramatic infrequent clouds of cicadas above ground every 13 or 17 years are unique to periodical species and specific geographic regions.

Summary Table: Cicada Season at a Glance

Aspect	Detail
Primary Emergence Months	May to July
Time Spent Above Ground	4–6 weeks
Total Life Cycle	13 or 17 years (periodical); 2–5 years (annual)
Main Activity	Mating, singing, egg-laying
Impact	Minor tree flagging, harmless to people and pets
Next Large Emergence	Depending on brood, up to 17 years from last event

Conclusion: Enjoying—and Enduring—Cicada Season

Long after the last cicada falls silent, their ecological role and life story remain both curious and essential to healthy forests and soils. Whether you find them fascinating, annoying, or both, cicadas are a remarkable signal of seasonal change and ecological resilience. Understanding their timing and impact makes it easier to cope—and maybe to appreciate—the next time you’re surrounded by nature’s noisiest neighbors.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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