Our very own Magicicada septendecim, a species of 17-year periodical cicada, is emerging in parts of Barnstable and perhaps Plymouth counties this year. This is after spending the last 17 years beneath the ground! Please help preserve and protect these insects.
Ideas for Observing
- Periodical cicadas began to emerge on Saturday, May 17, 2025 as reported in the Landscape Message in Barnstable County, MA (Cape Cod). With warm temperatures, they will be abundant and loud! Males will make choruses of buzzing sounds to attract females to mate. They will be active for a period of approximately 4-6 weeks.
- Here’s what to look for:
- Exit holes: periodical cicada nymphs leave behind round, approximately dime-sized holes in the soil from which they emerge. Sometimes soil is piled up around the exit hole, forming a turret.
Nymphs/cast or shed skins (exoskeletons): nymphs emerge from the ground and molt (shed their “skin” or exoskeleton) one final time into the adult life stage. Nymphs can be seen in various stages of metamorphosis or their discarded skins can be found on the ground and stuck to plants.
Teneral adults: freshly eclosed adults (emerging from the nymphal life stage) are referred to as teneral adults. This means that the insect has not completely expanded its wings or hardened its exoskeleton. They spend approximately 4-6 days in this vulnerable state before fully maturing into the adult life stage.
Matured adults: fully mature adult periodical cicadas have expanded wings capable of flight and hardened exoskeletons. Males will begin to sing (buzz) to attract females, mating will occur and eggs will be laid in slits in small twigs and branches.
Episode 6 of UMass Extension’s InsectXaminer features periodical cicadas!
Check out the short (3 min.) video by visiting the InsectXaminer webpage.
Where are the periodical cicadas? This map shows historical sampling of periodical cicadas in Massachusetts and beyond. Check to see if your area is on this map. If it is, talk to local garden centers, master gardeners, tree care professionals, or Extension to learn more about where you might find these special insects. While they may be in your area, local abundance varies significantly by site. Barnstable County Cooperative Extension and Plymouth County Extension are also available for information about periodical cicadas and much more!
- Not in an area on the map? Not to worry! This could be an opportunity to engage in entomotourism – wildlife, specifically insect or other arthropod, focused sight-seeing! This entomologist knows of at least one nursery in East Falmouth, MA that is planning to celebrate periodical cicadas – including dressing up as one!
- Take photos and report your location! Periodical cicadas are incredible native insects that benefit our ecosystems. Their populations have been threatened, and researchers want to know where they are. Join the MA Department of Agricultural Resources in tracking periodical cicadas in eastern MA by reporting your observations through iNaturalist! Other researchers will receive alerts when you report sightings here.
Need more periodical cicada information? See the April issue of Hort Notes under “Hot Topics”: Eastern MA Joins the Periodical Cicada Magic! This article includes further information about tips for preparing, periodical cicadas are not a plague, and further resources!
Media coverage
- As cicadas emerge in Mass., experts say to protect them - May 14, 2025 (Boston.com)
- UMass Extension Entomologist Tawny Simisky on Periodical Cicadas with The Garden Lady - May 3, 2025 (WCAI/WBUR)
- After 17 years underground, periodical cicadas in Mass. crawl out this spring - April 18, 2025 (WBUR)
- The cicadas are back! Mindy Todd and The Point with Tawny Simisky, UMass Extension, and Russ Norton, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension - May 29, 2025 (WCAI)
- The cicadas are back! - May 31, 2025 (The Point - CAI)
- 'Truly magical': The 17-year cicada is ready to rock - June 1, 2025 (Woo! Science)
