What's the deal with cicadas in Michigan this year?

There are two broods of cicadas that are emerging this year, but luckily people in Michigan won’t really have to deal with either of them.

The 17-year Brood XIII and 13-year Brood XIX will both emerge in 2024. Brood XIII is centered in northern Illinois, and Brood XIX is centered in southern Illinois and Missouri.

A few Brood XIII will emerge in 2024 in southwest Michigan close to the Indiana border, according to Michigan State University. Brood X is expected to return to Michigan in 2038.

Both broods are expected to start emerging as adults between late April and June. This won’t really impact many people Michigan, unless you want to see the cicadas, in which case you’ll have to travel to check them out.

Will cicada broods emerge in Michigan?

Michigan will still see cicadas, but it will be the cicadas we get every year.

There are 10 cicada species known to live and reproduce in Michigan, according to the University of Michigan. The cicadas we see each year are known as the “dog day” cicadas because they emerge in late summer and fall. They tend to be alone or in small numbers.

Cicadas start emerging when the soil temperature is greater than 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Adult cicadas stick around for about a month before they die.

For the most part, non-periodic cicadas do not all emerge at the same time. There are cicadas like the “dog day” cicadas that emerge each year, but there are others that emerge every 11 years but do not emerge all at the same time.

The “dog day” cicadas belong to the genus Tibicen and are described as large-bodied cicadas that usually have green and brown markings. Periodical cicadas usually have yellow or orange on their bodies and red eyes.

Can cicadas hurt humans or pets?

According to MSU, cicadas are not harmful to people or pets. They aren’t poisonous and do not bite or feed on animals.

Female cicadas lay eggs in woody plants. They seem to like small branches and stems. While a single egg mass probably won’t damage plants, many egg masses could harm young trees or shrubs.

Small perennial plants can be covered with remay garden cloth or row cover fabric to protect them from cicadas in areas that are expected to see mass emergences. The standard, non-periodic population of cicadas is not a pest concern.

Active periodical cicada brood map