Cicadas are large, noisy insects known for their distinctive, loud summer song, and they are abundant throughout all regions of Georgia. Georgia hosts multiple species of these insects, which fall into two main categories: those seen every year and those that appear infrequently in massive numbers. The life cycles and emergence patterns of these different types dictate when, where, and how often residents will encounter them.
Annual Versus Periodical Cicadas
The cicadas found in Georgia are categorized based on the length of their subterranean life cycle, which results in two very different emergence patterns. Annual cicadas, often called Dog-Day cicadas (Neotibicen species), appear every summer due to having overlapping generations. These are generally larger insects featuring black and green coloration, and their life cycle underground lasts between two and five years.
Periodical cicadas (Magicicada species), in contrast, have a synchronized life cycle lasting either 13 or 17 years. This causes an entire generation to emerge all at once in massive numbers, meaning they are only seen once every decade or more. These insects are smaller than annual relatives and are distinguishable by their black bodies, prominent reddish-orange eyes, and translucent wings tinted with orange. This difference in life cycle length helps them avoid predation by flooding the ecosystem with more individuals than predators can consume.
Seasonal Timing of Annual Cicada Emergences
Annual cicadas provide the reliable, yearly soundtrack to Georgia’s warmest months, emerging after the summer solstice. Their emergence window typically begins in late June, peaks during July and August, and continues until September. The sound associated with the annual species is a high-pitched, continuous buzz or drone heard primarily during the heat of the day.
This chorus is produced by males vibrating a specialized membrane on their abdomen called a tymbal, used solely for attracting a mate. Because their generations overlap, some individuals reach maturity each year, ensuring Georgians hear the sound of cicadas annually. Their summer appearance effectively distinguishes them from the massive, infrequent emergences of their periodical cousins that occur earlier in the spring.
Major Periodical Broods in Georgia
Georgia is home to a significant population of periodical cicadas, primarily the 13-year Brood XIX, also known as The Great Southern Brood. This brood is the largest of all periodical cicada broods in North America and is the only 13-year brood with a widespread presence in the state. Brood XIX last emerged in 2024, appearing across dozens of counties, particularly in Middle Georgia and the northwestern portions of the state.
The next anticipated emergence of Brood XIX will occur in 2037. Their emergence is a localized phenomenon, triggered when the soil eight inches beneath the surface reaches a sustained temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit, typically in late April or May. While Brood XIX is the most prevalent, the northern edge of Georgia occasionally overlaps with the range of 17-year broods, such as Brood X, which last emerged in 2021 and is expected again in 2038. These synchronized appearances create a spectacular density of insects that are active for only a few weeks before they mate and die.