- Michigan hosts annual cicadas, which are back this year, but is not expected to see periodical cicadas that emerge every 17 years
- The signing insects are known for loud buzzing but are harmless to people, pets and plants. The EPA says to leave them alone
- Over 3,000 cicada species exist worldwide
Annual “dog day” cicadas are back in Michigan. Known for their loud buzzing, these “singing” insects may be noisy, but they pose no harm and play a vital role in the environment.
What are cicadas?
More than 3,000 cicada species exist. While some appear annually, the “periodical” varieties — hidden underground for a decade or longer before reemerging — draw the most fascination.
Cicadas are famous for the loud buzzing males produce to attract mates.
In Michigan, common species include “dog day” or annual cicadas, which live underground for most of their lives and surface each late spring for about two months before dying. These thick-bodied insects, about 1 to 1½ inches long with green and brown markings, feed mainly on tree roots and sap.
“The dog day cicadas have a three-year life cycle and they … emerge every year,” said Howard Russell, a retired entomologist who previously worked at Michigan State University.
“Normally, (around) midsummer, they begin to appear. They buzz, they mate, they lay eggs in twigs, they die off and the cycle starts all over again.”
Michigan also hosts periodical cicadas, which spend roughly 17 years underground before emerging in massive numbers, sometimes in the trillions, leaving behind the next generation to repeat the cycle.
But those are not expected in Michigan this year.
Periodical cicadas are a bit larger than annual cicadas, with black bodies, red accents, and prominent red eyes. In Michigan, the most common type is Brood X.
The last major emergence of Brood X occurred in 2021, when swarms were seen in Washtenaw, Genesee, Livingston, Oakland and Lenawee counties in the southeast, as well as St. Joseph and Branch counties in the southwest.
When and where will cicadas appear this year?
As usual, dog day cicadas emerge in Michigan in late summer. Sightings — or “singing” — have already been reported in some parts of the state.
Related: When will cicadas emerge in 2024? Nearly all of Michigan will be spared
Females lay hundreds of eggs in trees, and once the larvae hatch, they drop to the ground and burrow, remaining underground until their next scheduled emergence — whether the following year or more than a decade later.
Are cicadas dangerous to people or pets?
Despite their loud buzzing, cicadas pose no threat to humans or animals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They don’t bite or sting, and some pets may even snack on them.
Cicadas also play an important role in the ecosystem, helping aerate soil and improve water absorption, the EPA notes.
What should you do if you encounter cicadas?
The EPA recommends against using pesticides on cicada swarms, noting they are “generally ineffective” at deterring them.
Since cicadas don’t eat leaves, flowers, or fruit, homeowners don’t need to protect shrubs or gardens. Within a few weeks, the insects will either leave or die, so it’s best to simply let them be.
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