Here Comes The Noise: Cicadas Set to Emerge in Kentucky

As summer approaches and the weather warms up, people across central and eastern Kentucky might find their outdoor time a bit noisier than usual this year. After spending 17 years underground, billions of cicadas are gearing up to make their grand appearance.

This group, known as a specific brood of periodical cicadas, is particularly tied to Kentucky. Experts say these critters will start popping up from the soil sometime between late April and early May. If you’re in the area, you might spot small holes scattered across yards as the young cicadas climb out after nearly two decades below the surface. Once they’re out, they’ll head for the trees, where the males will kick off a loud chorus to call in other males and woo females with their courtship songs.

While the sound might be hard to ignore, there’s no need to worry about these insects wreaking havoc. They won’t go after crops or gardens. Their main impact? The females will carve slits into tree twigs to lay their eggs, which can cause some branches to droop—a phenomenon called flagging.

The cicada buzz will stick around for about six to eight weeks before they die off. Later in the summer, the next generation will hatch, burrow into the ground, and settle in for another 17-year wait. This upcoming emergence is expected to be the biggest cicada event in Kentucky since a different brood showed up in 2021, though that one was more active just north of the state.

So, if you’re in central or eastern Kentucky this spring, brace yourself for a noisy natural spectacle—it’s all part of the cicadas’ rare and remarkable cycle!

Let us know what you think about this upcoming cicada concert in the comments below!