Cicadas to swarm Ohio like locusts. So are cicadas locusts? Can you eat them? What to know
The latest 17-year brood, Brood XIV, may only be a couple of weeks away from emerging this spring. When the soil hits the right temperature — 64 degrees, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources — these noisy insects will surface from their underground home and start breeding the next generation.
Here's what you need to know about the upcoming swarm.
Cicadas, like locusts, show up suddenly and in large numbers, and can sometimes be called "locusts," according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. However, cicadas are not locusts.
Locusts are grasshoppers, and the two species are not closely related, according to the Xerces Society. Locusts also swarm for different reasons.
Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, per ODNR. They emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May.
Annual cicadas emerge around the world each year, but periodical cicadas are found only in eastern North America. They live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years before emerging above ground in massive numbers. Different populations of periodical cicadas are called 'broods' and are numbered with Roman numerals.
They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs before dying.
Brood XIV cicadas will stretch from northern Georgia to Massachusetts. In Ohio, they will emerge in a more than dozen counties, per ODNR, mostly in Southwest Ohio:
Adams
Brown
Butler
Champaign
Clermont
Clinton
Gallia
Greene
Hamilton
Highland
Jackson
Lawrence
Pike
Ross
Scioto
Warren
Washington
Some of the edge counties will not see as heavy an emergence as others.
While swarms of noisy insects may be unsettling for some, cicadas are harmless to people and pets, according to ODNR. They are also a valuable food source for native wildlife, including birds, mammals and fish.
While egg-laying by female cicadas can cause 'flagging' on trees and shrubs (death of branch tips, from the egg-laying site to the end of the branch), there is little to no impact on established, otherwise healthy plants, ODNR states. Small or newly planted trees and shrubs are more vulnerable to damage and can be protected by covering them with fine netting for the few weeks that adult cicadas are active. Using pesticides on cicadas is not warranted or recommended.
Any animal that can eat insects will eat cicadas, according to the Purdue University Extension. Those include fish, bears, birds, raccoons and even other insects, like parasitic wasps.
They're also safe for your dog to eat, to a point.
According to the American Kennel Club, a dog that eats the occasional cicada should be fine. However dogs that gorge on cicadas will find their exoskeletons difficult to digest, resulting in an upset stomach, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Some dogs that overconsume cicadas may require a trip to the vet for IV fluids, or pain and anti-nausea medications.
States expecting cicadas this year include Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, told USA TODAY.
Kentucky and Tennessee probably will get the most cicadas this year, said John Cooley, an ecology and biology associate professor in residence at the University of Connecticut. There will also be large numbers in Georgia, the Carolinas and Pennsylvania, he said.
Kritsky collects data on cicadas through Cicada Safari. He encourages parents and guardians to talk to their children about cicadas and try out some of the activities he has listed on his website.
'If you're lucky enough to live in an area where the cicadas are and you've got kids, take them outside during the night,' he told USA TODAY. 'Let them see this. This is a once-in-a-generation activity. They'll never forget it.'
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cicadas to swarm Ohio in 2025. Are cicadas locusts? Map shows Ohio emergence
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
19-07-2025
- USA Today
Far from extinction, fireflies seem to be thriving in summer 2025
Rainy, damp weather along the eastern United States in summer 2025 has one upside: Fireflies love it. "Fireflies and their prey (snails, slugs, worms) need moisture, so years with high rainfall, particularly in the spring, can boost populations of fireflies in the summer," said Candace Fallon, a conservation biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. And warm, humid nights of 70 degrees or warmer are ideal for seeing the flashing lights that evoke nostalgia for many Americans, Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day told USA TODAY. It's hard to know for sure, but it appears that the whimsical bugs are indeed thriving in some areas. What is known: Fears of fireflies' imminent demise are misplaced, Day said. 'I would say fireflies are threatened due to habitat loss, but they are not going extinct, as some are adapting in different regions,' Day said. Indeed, of the 175 species of fireflies in the US, only 18 of are "threatened" with extinction, said Fallon. So while it's not good news for those few species, overall, "I don't think we're going to lose fireflies in our lifetimes," she told USA TODAY. Are firefly populations up in summer 2025? Fallon said in an email to USA TODAY that "from anecdotal reports, it does appear that at least the Midwest and Northeast are seeing record numbers of fireflies." She added that "we have heard from several areas of the country that folks are seeing an increase in fireflies this year, while in other regions we're been hearing the opposite." Day agreed, noting that it all depends on location, with rural areas typically seeing more fireflies while urban and suburban areas seeing fewer. Why do people care about fireflies? Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, these illuminated insects are a sure sign of lazy, hot summer evenings. Many remember the thrill of running after them as a kid, trying to capture them in glass jars. "Fireflies evoke memories for people," Day told USA TODAY. "They harken back to our childhoods, reminding us of other times." "They're one of the most pleasant insects to come across... it a good thing to see fireflies," he added. Are fireflies a threatened or endangered species? Day said that generally, the answer to that is yes in urban areas, but to a lesser extent in rural areas. Fallon explained further: "While there are currently no listed firefly species under the US Endangered Species Act, one species (the Bethany Beach firefly) has been proposed for listing as a threatened species, and two others (the Florida intertidal firefly and Southwest spring firefly) are under review for listing." Overall, threatened firefly species are found in 16 states, all the way from Arizona to New York (see map below). As well, Fallon said two additional species have been petitioned (the mysterious lantern firefly and the loopy five firefly) but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not yet published 90-day findings on those species (in which they determine whether a full review for listing is warranted), Fallon explained. What are the main threats to fireflies? According to Fallon, "firefly populations are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, light pollution (which makes it difficult for fireflies to communicate with one another), pesticide use (which can kill them or their prey, or damage their habitat), and climate change (including drought, sea level rise, and storms)." How might climate change impact fireflies? "Because fireflies require moisture, drought related to climate change is a leading threat to fireflies, particularly in the arid West," Fallon told USA TODAY. "In some places, streams that were once perennial have now dried up, and in other areas, marshy areas and other wetlands have also disappeared. These once-perennial water sources are hugely important to fireflies, and their loss can lead to the loss of local populations." Fallon added that on the East Coast, sea-level rise and increased storm surges are having negative impacts on fireflies. In many coastal areas, firefly habitat is already hemmed in by human development on one side and the ocean on the other. As sea level rises, these habitat patches are disappearing. "In the case of increased severity and frequency of storm surges, the inundation of firefly habitats with saltwater can increase the salinity of a site, changing its vegetative makeup and making it uninhabitable for fireflies," Fallon said.


The Hill
02-07-2025
- The Hill
July 4th forecast map: Will you have clear skies for fireworks?
(NEXSTAR) – People in some areas of the U.S. may want to stock up on their own sparklers, Roman candles and fountains, because the weather may put a damper on July Fourth fireworks displays. 'Some parts of the United States are going to have to deal with Mother Nature's fireworks, and the manmade ones may get a little bit of a washout,' said Chief Meteorologist Brian James with the Nexstar Weather Center. The central part of the United States and down toward the Southeast have the greatest chance of rain and thunderstorms, according to James. The Dakotas, western parts of Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas all have suboptimal forecasts for Independence Day. Heat will also be a factor for a number of cities with highs expected to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago, 93 in Louisville, 104 in Phoenix and 102 in Las Vegas. So where are clear skies in the forecast? Green in the map below indicates areas with the best forecast for fireworks viewing: With the Fourth of July falling on a Friday, experts at auto club AAA are expecting a record-setting 72.2 million Americans to take a domestic trip over the long weekend, packing the nation's highways, rails and airports. As for road trips, AAA is forecasting that a record 61.6 million people will travel by car – a 2.2% increase, or 1.3 million additional travelers, over last year. According to transportation data provider Inrix, July 2 and July 6 are expected to be the busiest driving days. AAA projects that the Fourth of July week will also see a record 5.84 million air travelers over the Independence Day week, a 1.4% jump from last year's record of 5.76 million. The Transportation Security Administration says it is prepared for the holiday rush at the nation's airports, but warns air travelers that they should expect the busiest day to be Sunday, July 6, when passenger volume is forecast to reach 2.9 million.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
Close encounter: Black bear spotted on local doorbell camera
MONTVILLE, Ohio (WJW) — A black bear was spotted in a Northeast Ohio neighborhood this week. Darcie Little lives in Montville Township in Geauga County. Rare white fawn spotted in North Olmsted She sent FOX 8 video of her close encounter. In the video taken about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, you can see the bear sniffing around just off the front porch, then saunter back into the dark. The video was captured on the home's doorbell camera. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, black bears are considered an endangered species in the state. Local black bear being tracked by ODNR ODNR said the best chance of spotting a black bear in Northeast Ohio is in Geauga, Ashtabula, Lake, Trumbull and Mahoning counties. In 2022 alone, 285 bear sightings were reported across 52 counties. Bear mating season began in May and continues into the summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.