Will Cicadas Return to Pennsylvania in 2025?

As this year’s colossal cicada broods begin to dwindle, some may be curious about their return. Cicadas emerge periodically, either every 13 or 17 years, depending on the brood.

In 2024, both Brood XIX (on a 13-year cycle) and Brood XIII (on a 17-year cycle) emerged simultaneously. Brood XIX primarily affected Missouri and Illinois, spreading across the Southeast from Oklahoma to Maryland. Brood XIII inundated parts of Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.

For those who escaped the cicada invasion this year, 2025 will present a new challenge: Brood XIV, the second-largest periodical brood, will emerge.

This brood will cover Southern Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. In Pennsylvania, counties like Bedford, Centre, Clinton, Franklin, Luzerne, Mifflin, Montour, Schuylkill, and Snyder will experience the cicada emergence.

The simultaneous emergence of Broods XIX and XIII in 2024 was a rare occurrence, last observed in 1803. Cicada populations are enormous, with estimates of around 1 million per acre, potentially totaling hundreds of trillions of cicadas across 16 states.

Despite their intimidating numbers, cicadas are harmless. They climb trees and release a mostly water-based fluid, which is not harmful or particularly unpleasant.

Looking ahead, the next significant event will be in 2076 when Broods XIX and XIV emerge together, promising an even more substantial cicada presence, aptly dubbed “cicada-palooza” by experts.

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