After nearly two decades underground, Brood XIV cicadas are making their long-awaited return across 13 states in the eastern United States, with Cincinnati’s East Side experiencing a particularly heavy concentration of the insects.

This emergence marks the first appearance of Brood XIV since 2008, and while the cicadas are already surfacing, their signature buzzing won’t begin until about five days after emergence.

“I’ve never seen so many,” says Kate Faulconer, a middle school science teacher at Fairfield Local Middle School, reflecting on the sheer number of cicadas appearing in the region.

Sightings have been reported in Highland County, Ohio, and other areas across the state, as well as in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and beyond.

Male cicadas produce a loud, rhythmic call to attract females for mating. Once they mate, females lay eggs in tree branches, which hatch after a few weeks. The newly hatched cicadas, known as nymphs, then burrow underground, where they will remain for 17 years before emerging again.

The small emergence holes, roughly the size of a pinky finger, are a telltale sign of their arrival.

While their presence may seem overwhelming, cicadas play an important role in the environment. Millions of cicadas serve as a food source for birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer.

Despite their intimidating numbers, cicadas are harmless to humans and pets. They do not sting or bite, and their large, clumsy flight patterns make them more of a nuisance than a threat.

The last major cicada emergence in the Tri-State area occurred in 2021, but that was a different brood. Brood XIV’s return is a once-in-a-generation event, offering a unique opportunity for scientists and nature enthusiasts to observe this fascinating natural cycle.

As the buzzing intensifies in the coming days, residents across Ohio and beyond will witness one of nature’s most remarkable displays—an insect invasion that has been 17 years in the making.