Major Cicada Emergence Set to Transform the East Coast This Summer

The low hum of summer usually includes sounds of lawnmowers and sizzling burgers. This year, however, it might also resonate with the distinct sound of cicadas. This annual emergence promises to be particularly striking, as experts predict the emergence of the second-largest brood of cicadas in the United States.

A Closer Look at Cicada Broods

In the Eastern United States, two main types of cicadas inhabit the landscape: annual cicadas, which emerge each year, and periodical cicadas, which surface every 13 or 17 years. The Environmental Protection Agency emphasizes the significance of these unique insects, which primarily reside in trees and shrubs.

Cicada broods categorize these creatures based on their emergence patterns rather than biological traits. As a result, areas that experienced cicada swarms last year may not see them this season.

Insight from Ecological Experts

Dr. John R. Cooley, an associate professor-in-residence of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut, offers insight into this year’s cicada phenomena. He refers to Brood XIV as a “keystone” brood, marking it as the second-largest, only behind Brood XIX, recognized as the “Great Southern Brood,” which made its last appearance in 2024 across 15 states, from Oklahoma to Maryland.

Although another significant brood, known as Brood X or the