This spring, Massachusetts residents will see a surge of cicadas, but there will also be other insects of which people should be aware.
Soon, the 17-year periodical cicadas, also known as Brood XIV, will be emerging in the Bay State, as well as in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
While cicadas may look intimidating, they don’t bother humans. But there are insects that cause havoc in the spring and summer.
Here’s what to know.
What are some insects to look out for this spring?
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is closely tracking both the usual wave of seasonal pests and the rare emergence of the following:
Lone Star Ticks: Massachusetts Department of Health stated that these exist in the Bay State, especially on Cape Cod. A release from the NPMA states, “They’re the most aggressive tick species when it comes to biting humans, and they continue to expand their territory to even more of the U.S. Lone star tick bites can cause victims to develop a rare, but serious, meat allergy.” They aren’t the only tick to look out for either. Deer ticks, which can carry Lyme Disease, are also a danger.
Termites: Termites cause more than $6.8 billion in property damage each year, according to the NPMA. The National Wildlife Federation said termite nests are found underground, in dead trees and stumps, in the tops of live trees, and in wooden structures such as houses. They cause significant structural damage to homes by feeding on wood, weakening foundations and walls.
Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so wet weather and flooding can increase their threat, according to the NPMA. Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases like West Nile Virus and EEE, which can be serious.
When are cicadas expected to be in Massachusetts?
“Cicadas emerge when the soil temperature reaches about 64°F at a depth of 12–18 inches,” according to The Nature Conservancy. That means the cicadas arrive as early as May and stay until late June.
Brood XIV probably will begin to emerge in the third week of April or when areas get a “good rain,” Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, told USA Today in a recent report. Cicada Safari is a group that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, the report added.
The last time this particular brood of cicadas was around was 2008.
Historical dates for Brood XIV in Massachusetts include appearances over the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s in Barnstable, Dennis, Falmouth, Bourne, Plymouth and a handful of other nearby towns.
What are cicadas?
There are more than 2,000 species of this insect worldwide, according to Mass Audubon, the most common in Massachusetts being the “Dog Day” cicada, which arise every two years or so. The Dog Day cicada is “approximately 2.25 inches long, medium brown, with a green venation, the vein structure in its wing.”
The “periodical” cicada comes out once every 17 years, and are a bit smaller than Dog Day cicadas, with black bodies, Mass Wildlife explained. The periodical creatures are the ones expected to be in the Bay State in a few short weeks.
What they’re most known for is their ability to make a racket, able to generate noise reaching 100 decibels. Cicadas can typically be heard “singing” during their stay, according to Mass Wildlife. The cicadas make such sounds with organs in their bodies called tympana.
What cicadas emerged in 2024?
In 2024, two broods of “periodical” cicadas – 13-year brood Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII – emerged from the ground at the same time last summer.
That’s a rare occasion in itself – it’s not often that two such broods arise at the same time. It hadn’t happened in 200 years.
However, the convergence of the two broods mostly occurred in the southern United States, so Massachusetts residents weren’t able to see the full spectacle.
Can cicadas hurt humans or pets?
According to Mass Audubon, “cicadas are among the most benign of insects” and do not typically carry any sorts of disease. The organization added that they do not hurt pets, either.
This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Cicadas, spring pests on the way in MA. Here’s what to know about them