When summer arrives in New York, you might hear an unmistakable sound rising from trees and gardens: the distinctive buzzing chorus of cicadas. These remarkable insects have fascinated people for generations, yet many of us know surprisingly little about the different species sharing our state.
You’ve probably wondered whether the cicadas you’re hearing are the famous periodical broods that make headlines, or if they’re the annual varieties that emerge every single year. The truth is, New York hosts a surprising diversity of cicada species, each with its own emergence patterns, sounds, and life cycles.
Understanding these differences transforms a simple summer soundscape into a window onto one of nature’s most compelling insect phenomena.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to identify the species in your area, learn when they emerge, and understand why some cicadas capture scientific attention while others quietly complete their life cycles in the background.
1. Magicicada septendecim
The 17-year periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecim) represents one of the most studied and celebrated insects in North America. You might know these cicadas by their common name, the “swamp cicada” in some regions, though this species actually inhabits a much broader range than swamps alone.
What makes Magicicada septendecim extraordinary is its synchronized emergence pattern—vast populations of these insects spend 17 years underground as nymphs, then emerge within a narrow window of time to mate and lay eggs.
Key Insight: Magicicada septendecim produces one of the loudest insect sounds in North America, reaching up to 120 decibels when males congregate in large choruses.
When they do emerge, typically in late May through June depending on soil temperature and location, you’ll notice their reddish-brown bodies with distinctive black markings. These cicadas are relatively large, measuring about 1.25 to 1.5 inches long.
The males produce an unmistakable sound—a rising and falling buzz that can last 30 seconds or longer. Unlike the annual cicadas that produce a more steady hum, Magicicada septendecim creates an almost haunting, pulsing call that many people find mesmerizing.
In New York, Brood XIV (the periodical brood associated with this species) last emerged in significant numbers in 2008 and won’t appear again until 2025 in some areas and later in others, depending on the specific location within the state.
You can track whether your area falls within an emergence zone through NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) resources, which maintain detailed emergence maps updated annually.
2. Magicicada cassini
The 17-year periodical cicada (Magicicada cassini) overlaps its range with Magicicada septendecim in New York but has distinct characteristics that allow you to differentiate between them. This species tends to emerge slightly later in the season, often appearing in early June when other periodical species are already established in their mating sites.
Common Mistake: Many people assume all periodical cicadas sound identical. In reality, Magicicada cassini produces a distinctly different call—shorter bursts with a different pitch than its relatives. Learning these acoustic differences helps you identify which species are present in your area even without seeing them.
You can recognize Magicicada cassini by its slightly smaller size compared to Magicicada septendecim, typically ranging from 1 to 1.25 inches. The body coloration includes more orange-red tones, and the wing venation appears slightly different under close examination.
These cicadas also prefer forested habitats and tend to congregate in higher densities in wooded areas compared to more open environments.
The emergence pattern for Magicicada cassini follows the same 17-year cycle as its periodical relatives, with Brood XIV presenting the next significant emergence opportunity in New York. Like Magicicada septendecim, this species spends nearly its entire lifecycle underground, where nymphs feed on tree root sap before the final molt triggers their synchronized emergence.
3. Magicicada septendecula
The 17-year periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecula) completes the trio of periodical species you might encounter during emergence years in New York. This species is smaller than its relatives, usually measuring between 0.8 and 1.1 inches, making it noticeably diminutive when compared side-by-side with the other Magicicada species.
You’ll hear Magicicada septendecula producing a steady, high-pitched buzz—distinct from both Magicicada septendecim and Magicicada cassini. This acoustic signature, once learned, becomes a reliable identification tool.
The sound rises and falls but generally maintains a higher frequency than the other periodical species, creating a unique position in the cicada chorus.
What’s fascinating about Magicicada septendecula is its ecological role during mass emergence years. While the sheer number of periodical cicadas can seem overwhelming to humans, these insects provide an enormous food resource for birds, mammals, and other predators.
Magicicada septendecula, being smaller, often becomes prey for species that might ignore the larger periodical cicadas, distributing the predation pressure more evenly across the ecosystem.
| Periodical Species Comparison | Typical Emergence | Size | Call Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magicicada septendecim | Late May–June | 1.25–1.5 inches | Long, pulsing buzz (30+ seconds) |
| Magicicada cassini | Early–Mid June | 1–1.25 inches | Shorter bursts, medium pitch |
| Magicicada septendecula | June–Early July | 0.8–1.1 inches | Steady, high-pitched buzz |
4. Dog-day Cicada
The dog-day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis) emerges every single summer in New York, making it one of your most reliable cicada encounters during warm months. The common name refers to the “dog days” of summer—that peak heat period of July and August when this species reaches peak activity.
You don’t need to wait for a 17-year cycle to hear these cicadas; they’re present in most New York summers.
Important Note: Dog-day cicadas can create significant noise levels in urban and suburban areas during July and August. This is entirely natural behavior and doesn’t indicate an infestation—it’s simply the annual emergence of a healthy population.
Neotibicen canicularis is one of the largest annual cicada species you’ll find in New York, often measuring between 1.5 and 2 inches long. Their bodies appear predominantly black with some greenish markings, and their wings show distinctive smoky coloration.
The males produce a loud, sustained buzz that often seems to intensify during the hottest parts of the day—hence why their emergence coincides with the peak summer heat.
You’ll typically hear dog-day cicadas from mid-July through August, with populations tapering off as September arrives and temperatures cool. Unlike periodical cicadas that spend 17 years underground, dog-day cicada nymphs mature over approximately 2 years, allowing a continuous population that emerges annually.
This makes them year-round residents in terms of their life cycle, even if you only see the adults during specific months.
5. Northern Dusk-Singing Cicada
The northern dusk-singing cicada (Megatibicen auletes) gets its distinctive common name from its behavior—these cicadas become most vocal during the dimming hours of evening. You might encounter this species primarily in the northern portions of New York State, where its range overlaps with suitable forest habitats.
Megatibicen auletes produces a call quite different from other New York cicadas. Rather than maintaining a constant buzz, these insects create a sound that rises and falls rhythmically, often described as sounding like a small engine.
The calling behavior intensifies at dusk, creating a distinctive evening soundscape in areas where populations are established.
Pro Tip: If you want to observe northern dusk-singing cicadas without expending significant effort, position yourself near suitable habitat during the last hour before sunset. You’ll often hear them more easily than other species during this window, even if daytime cicada activity seems relatively quiet.
This species typically measures between 1.3 and 1.7 inches long, displaying a tan to reddish-brown coloration with darker markings. The wings often show smoky patterns similar to dog-day cicadas but with subtly different venation patterns.
Megatibicen auletes follows an annual emergence pattern, reaching peak activity in August and September.
6. Lyric Cicada
The lyric cicada (Neotibicen lyricen) represents another annual cicada species you might encounter, though its distribution in New York is more localized than some other species.
This cicada earned its “lyric” designation from the melodious quality some people perceive in its call—while cicada sounds are generally considered loud and buzzing, Neotibicen lyricen produces acoustic patterns that some listeners find more musical than harsh.
You’ll recognize lyric cicadas by their medium size—typically 1.2 to 1.5 inches—and their coloration pattern of black bodies with significant amounts of green or yellow-green on the thorax and abdomen. This green coloration provides some visual distinctiveness compared to the predominantly black dog-day cicadas.
Neotibicen lyricen emerges primarily in mid to late summer, with peak activity occurring in August. These cicadas prefer deciduous forest environments and show a preference for certain tree species when selecting singing perches.
Unlike the northern dusk-singing cicada, lyric cicadas remain vocally active throughout the day, though their calling intensity may peak during specific hours.
7. Swamp Cicada
The swamp cicada (Neotibicen tibicen) inhabits wetland and swamp environments throughout New York, though its presence depends on suitable habitat. This species represents the true ecological specialist among New York’s annual cicadas, as its name directly references its preferred environment.
Key Insight: Despite their name referencing “swamp,” these cicadas can occasionally be found in other moist habitats including urban areas with adequate moisture and suitable vegetation, though they remain most abundant in true wetland environments.
Neotibicen tibicen measures approximately 1.3 to 1.7 inches and displays predominantly black coloration with some greenish markings similar to other Neotibicen species.
What distinguishes swamp cicadas from related species is their strong preference for wetland vegetation—you’ll find them singing from cattails, rushes, and waterside trees rather than in typical upland forest habitat.
The call of the swamp cicada creates a distinctive component of wetland soundscapes during July and August. The acoustic pattern differs from both dog-day and northern dusk-singing cicadas, though the differences remain subtle to untrained ears.
If you’re exploring New York’s wetlands during mid-summer, the presence of swamp cicadas often signals a healthy ecosystem with appropriate moisture and vegetation structure.
8. Scissor-Grinder Cicada
The scissor-grinder cicada (Neotibicen pruinosus) appears in limited portions of New York, primarily in the southern and central regions of the state. This species earned its common name from the acoustic pattern of its call—listeners often describe it as resembling the sound of scissors being sharpened on a grinding stone.
Neotibicen pruinosus represents a medium-sized annual cicada, typically measuring 1.2 to 1.5 inches. The coloration includes predominantly black bodies with distinctive pale or whitish pruinescence (a waxy bloom) on parts of the thorax, giving this species a somewhat frosted appearance that distinguishes it from related species.
You’re most likely to encounter scissor-grinder cicadas in late July through September, with populations appearing somewhat later in the season compared to earlier-emerging annual species.
These cicadas prefer deciduous forest habitats and tend to concentrate in areas with appropriate mature tree populations.
| Annual Species Comparison | Typical Peak Activity | Size | Habitat Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog-day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis) | July–August | 1.5–2 inches | Diverse; urban to forest |
| Northern dusk-singing (Megatibicen auletes) | August–September | 1.3–1.7 inches | Northern forests |
| Lyric cicada (Neotibicen lyricen) | August | 1.2–1.5 inches | Deciduous forests |
| Swamp cicada (Neotibicen tibicen) | July–August | 1.3–1.7 inches | Wetlands |
| Scissor-grinder (Neotibicen pruinosus) | Late July–September | 1.2–1.5 inches | Deciduous forests |
9. Say’s Cicada
Say’s cicada (Okanagana rimosa) represents a less commonly discussed species in New York discussions, yet it inhabits portions of the state’s western regions. This genus, Okanagana, differs significantly from both Magicicada and Neotibicen in its characteristics and behavior.
Okanagana rimosa is a relatively small cicada, typically measuring only 0.6 to 1 inch long—making it noticeably diminutive compared to most other New York cicada species.
The body coloration appears predominantly brown or tan, sometimes with darker markings on the wings. This understated coloration contrasts sharply with the bold black coloring of many Neotibicen species.
You’ll identify Say’s cicada primarily by its call pattern, which differs substantially from other cicadas—the sound tends to be quieter and more subdued than most Magicicada or Neotibicen species.
This acoustic difference means that Say’s cicadas might be present in your area without creating the loud, obvious choruses associated with dog-day cicadas or periodical emergences.
Common Mistake: People sometimes overlook Say’s cicadas entirely because their quieter calls make them less noticeable during busy summer months. However, their presence indicates ecosystem diversity, and they play the same ecological role as their louder cousins.
Say’s cicadas emerge in mid to late summer, with peak activity typically occurring in August and September. These insects prefer drier habitats compared to swamp cicadas, often inhabiting areas with sandy or well-drained soils.
10. Okanagana canadensis
Okanagana canadensis completes the list of cicada species found in New York. Like Say’s cicada, this species belongs to the Okanagana genus and shares similar characteristics including small size and relatively subdued calling behavior.
Okanagana canadensis measures between 0.7 and 1.1 inches, placing it among the smaller cicada species present in the state. The coloration similarly appears brownish to tan, with variations in marking patterns between individuals.
These cicadas demonstrate a preference for specific habitat types, though their exact ecological requirements remain less well-documented than those of the more commonly studied Magicicada and Neotibicen species.
The call of Okanagana canadensis reflects the general pattern for Okanagana cicadas—a relatively quiet, somewhat musical sound compared to the loud buzzes of larger species. This acoustic subtlety means that discovering these cicadas often requires active listening or deliberate searching rather than simply noticing an obvious chorus.
Pro Tip: If you’re interested in observing Okanagana canadensis specifically, focus your search efforts on late summer in suitable habitat within western New York. These cicadas reach peak activity in August and September, and their preference for specific microhabitats means that finding them rewards careful exploration of different environments.
Conlusion
Your location within New York significantly influences which cicada species you’ll encounter and when they’ll appear. Northern regions of the state host different species compositions compared to the southern and western portions.
Urban and suburban areas support different cicada populations compared to forest and wetland environments.
The emergence of periodical cicadas like Brood XIV transforms the cicada landscape temporarily, but understanding the annual species helps you appreciate your local insect community year-round. Each species fills specific ecological roles, providing food for wildlife while simultaneously playing their part in the broader ecosystem.
When you hear cicadas in New York, you’re witnessing one of nature’s most remarkable synchronized phenomena—or simply enjoying the sounds of a healthy summer insect population.
Either way, knowing which species surrounds you deepens your connection to the natural world and transforms a simple summer sound into a meaningful conversation with the living landscape.
