New Brood of Cicadas Ready to Emerge Across Ohio in May

Researchers said a new brood of buzzing cicadas is set to emerge from the ground and begin mating across Central and Eastern Ohio this Spring.

A subset of the underground insect’s population, known as Brood-V, will be particularly heavy around Athens and Nelsonville area.

Gene Kritsky, a biologist and cicada expert at Cincinnati’s Mount St. Joseph University, said Brood-V last appeared in 1999. Brood-X surfaced in 2004.

Ohio’s Division of Wildlife said cicadas aren’t dangerous. They benefit trees, plants and birds. Wild turkeys flourished during Brood- V’s last appearance.

It generally takes 17 years of subterranean development for cicadas to transition from nymph to adult. Once they emerge, they live about six weeks as they shed, mate and lay eggs.