An event in the insect world that happens only once every 17 years is expected in parts of the Upstate, Western North Carolina and Georgia this spring. Periodical cicadas, the longest-living North American insects, surface between May and June in cycles of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species. Periodical cicadas are more than an inch longer than the ones that are around every year, and they have make a much louder noise. The cicada invasion only lasts six weeks. The cicadas climb burrow up from their longtime homes in the roots of hardwood trees. Once above ground, they mate, lay eggs in trees and die, leaving behind new cicadas that drop into the ground and continue the cycle. While underground, cicadas survive on moisture from tree roots. Cicadas do not eat solid food. This spring, the 17-year cicadas, found only in the eastern half of the United States, will emerge once ground temperatures reach 64 degrees 8 inches beneath the surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Brood VI of the 17-year cicadas will emerge in Rabun County in Georgia, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, Wilkes counties in North Carolina and Oconee and Pickens County in South Carolina, and possibly other locations. To get breaking news alerts sent to your phone download the WYFF 4 app here.

An event in the insect world that happens only once every 17 years is expected in parts of the Upstate, Western North Carolina and Georgia this spring.

Periodical cicadas, the longest-living North American insects, surface between May and June in cycles of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species.


Periodical cicadas are more than an inch longer than the ones that are around every year, and they have make a much louder noise.

The cicada invasion only lasts six weeks. The cicadas climb burrow up from their longtime homes in the roots of hardwood trees. Once above ground, they mate, lay eggs in trees and die, leaving behind new cicadas that drop into the ground and continue the cycle.

Michael, Flickr 17-year cicada

While underground, cicadas survive on moisture from tree roots. Cicadas do not eat solid food.



This spring, the 17-year cicadas, found only in the eastern half of the United States, will emerge once ground temperatures reach 64 degrees 8 inches beneath the surface, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Brood VI of the 17-year cicadas will emerge in Rabun County in Georgia, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, Wilkes counties in North Carolina and Oconee and Pickens County in South Carolina, and possibly other locations.

To get breaking news alerts sent to your phone download the WYFF 4 app here.

