Every summer evening in North Carolina brings the unmistakable drone of cicadas filling the air, but you might be surprised to learn that 14 distinct species create this seasonal symphony.
Unlike the massive periodical emergences that capture headlines every 13 or 17 years, most of North Carolina’s cicadas emerge annually, providing consistent background music to your warm-weather activities.
Understanding these fascinating insects can transform your appreciation for nature’s most persistent musicians and help you identify which species are serenading you from your backyard trees.
This comprehensive guide covers all cicadas you’ll encounter in the Tar Heel State, from the common dog-day cicadas that emerge every July to the rare periodical species that spend over a decade underground before their spectacular mass emergences.
Whether you’re hearing them for the first time or you’re a seasoned naturalist, you’ll discover the unique characteristics, timing, and sounds that distinguish each of North Carolina’s 14 cicada species.
Annual Cicadas
Annual cicadas emerge every summer in North Carolina, providing the consistent soundscape most residents associate with hot weather. These species complete their life cycles in 2-5 years, with different cohorts emerging each year to maintain continuous populations. Unlike their periodical cousins, annual cicadas emerge individually rather than in massive synchronized events, making them reliable summer companions throughout the state.
Dog-day Cicada
The dog-day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis) represents North Carolina’s most recognizable summer sound, emerging during the hottest “dog days” of July and August when Sirius, the Dog Star, rises with the sun. These robust insects measure 1.5 to 2 inches in length, displaying distinctive green and black coloration with clear wings marked by prominent green veining.
Pro Tip: Look for dog-day cicadas on oak, maple, and pine trees during late afternoon when they’re most active. Their calls reach peak intensity between 2-4 PM on sunny days.
You’ll find dog-day cicadas throughout North Carolina’s diverse habitats, from urban neighborhoods to mountain forests. Males produce a loud, continuous buzzing call that can reach 100 decibels, making them audible from over a quarter-mile away. Their lifecycle spans 2-3 years, with nymphs feeding on tree roots before emerging to molt into their distinctive adult form. The species shows remarkable adaptability to different tree hosts, including both deciduous and coniferous species, which explains their widespread distribution across the state’s varied ecosystems.
Female dog-day cicadas create small slits in tree branches to deposit their eggs, occasionally causing minor damage to young or stressed trees. However, their ecological benefits far outweigh any negative impacts, as emerging nymphs aerate soil around root systems and adults serve as important food sources for birds, spiders, and other wildlife.
Linne’s Cicada
Linne’s cicada (Neotibicen linnei) emerges slightly earlier than its dog-day cousin, typically appearing in late June through July across North Carolina’s piedmont and coastal plain regions. These medium-sized cicadas measure approximately 1.3 inches long and display more subdued brown and tan coloration with darker wing markings that distinguish them from other annual species.
Key Insight: Linne’s cicadas prefer hardwood forests and are excellent indicators of healthy oak-hickory ecosystems. Their presence suggests mature forest conditions with established tree communities.
The species demonstrates a preference for oak, hickory, and elm trees, where males position themselves on trunk bark to produce their characteristic call—a rhythmic series of short bursts followed by longer sustained tones. This pattern differs significantly from the continuous drone of dog-day cicadas, helping observers distinguish between the two species even when visual identification proves challenging.
Linne’s cicadas complete their development in approximately 2-4 years, depending on soil temperature and moisture conditions. Research indicates that cooler mountain regions may extend their development time, while warmer coastal areas can accelerate their lifecycle. Their nymphs create distinctive mud turrets around emergence holes, which remain visible for weeks after the adults have departed.
| Species Comparison | Dog-day Cicada | Linne’s Cicada |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Emergence | July-August | Late June-July |
| Size | 1.5-2 inches | 1.3 inches |
| Call Pattern | Continuous drone | Rhythmic bursts |
| Preferred Trees | Oak, maple, pine | Oak, hickory, elm |
| Color | Green-black | Brown-tan |
Swamp Cicada
The swamp cicada (Neotibicen tibicen tibicen) thrives in North Carolina’s wetland margins, bottomland forests, and areas with consistently moist soil conditions. These cicadas emerge from mid-July through early September, extending the cicada season well into late summer when many other species have completed their brief adult phase.
Measuring 1.4 to 1.7 inches in length, swamp cicadas display dark green bodies with bronze highlights and wings featuring distinctive amber-tinted veining. Their calls consist of a rising and falling whine that many describe as similar to a distant motorcycle engine, quite different from other North Carolina species.
Important Note: Swamp cicadas require specific moisture conditions and may be indicators of climate change impacts on wetland ecosystems. Their populations have shown sensitivity to drought conditions in recent years.
- Habitat Requirements: Swamp cicadas need trees within 100 yards of permanent or seasonal water sources
- Emergence Pattern: They emerge in smaller numbers over extended periods rather than distinct waves
- Host Preferences: Willow, baldcypress, and water oak serve as primary host trees
- Conservation Status: Populations face pressure from wetland development and altered hydrology
The species demonstrates remarkable drought tolerance once established but requires adequate soil moisture during the critical nymph development phases. Climate data suggests that North Carolina’s changing precipitation patterns may affect future swamp cicada distributions, making them important indicators of ecosystem health in riparian zones.
Scissor Grinder Cicada
Named for their distinctive call that resembles the sound of scissors being sharpened, scissor grinder cicadas (Neotibicen winnemanna) emerge during peak summer heat in July and August. These medium-sized cicadas, measuring 1.2 to 1.5 inches, inhabit mature forests throughout North Carolina’s mountain and piedmont regions.
The scissor grinder’s call pattern consists of short, sharp pulses delivered in rapid succession, creating the mechanical grinding sound that inspired their common name. Males typically call from high branches of oak and hickory trees during the hottest part of the day, when air temperatures exceed 85°F.
Their brown and tan coloration with subtle darker banding provides excellent camouflage against tree bark, making visual identification challenging compared to their larger, more conspicuous relatives. However, their unique call signature makes audio identification relatively straightforward for experienced listeners.
Common Mistake: Many observers confuse scissor grinder cicadas with Linne’s cicadas due to similar size and coloration. The key difference lies in their calls—scissor grinders produce rapid pulses while Linne’s cicadas deliver rhythmic burst patterns.
Research conducted by North Carolina State University indicates that scissor grinder populations prefer mature forest stands with canopy cover exceeding 70%. This habitat specificity makes them valuable indicators of forest succession and management practices. Urban development and forest fragmentation pose significant challenges to maintaining stable populations of this species.
Hieroglyphic Cicada
The hieroglyphic cicada (Neotibicen hieroglyphicus) earns its distinctive name from the intricate black markings on its wings that resemble ancient hieroglyphic symbols. These markings create unique patterns that vary slightly between individuals, making them one of the most visually striking annual cicada species in North Carolina.
Emerging from late July through early September, hieroglyphic cicadas measure 1.6 to 1.8 inches and prefer mixed hardwood-pine forests throughout the state’s diverse ecosystems. Their robust build and striking wing patterns make them popular among insect photographers and nature enthusiasts.
The species produces a complex call combining continuous tones with intermittent clicking sounds, creating what many describe as a “chattering” quality distinct from other cicada species. This vocal complexity may serve multiple communication functions, including species recognition and territory establishment among competing males.
Pro Tip: Hieroglyphic cicadas are most easily spotted during early morning hours when they remain relatively motionless on tree trunks. Their distinctive wing patterns are clearly visible during this period before they become active later in the day.
- Identification Features: Distinctive black hieroglyphic markings on clear wings
- Size Range: 1.6-1.8 inches, among the larger annual species
- Preferred Habitat: Mixed hardwood-pine forests with diverse canopy structure
- Call Description: Complex chattering with continuous and clicking elements
- Peak Activity: Early morning for observation, afternoon for calling
Scientific studies suggest that hieroglyphic cicadas may be adapting to climate change by extending their emergence period and shifting peak activity times to cooler parts of the day. This behavioral flexibility demonstrates the species’ resilience compared to more specialized cicada species.
Robinson’s Cicada
Robinson’s cicada (Neotibicen robinsonianus) represents one of North Carolina’s less common annual species, typically found in specific microhabitats within the state’s mountain and upper piedmont regions. Named after early entomologist Charles Robinson, these cicadas emerge during August and early September, often overlapping with late-season dog-day cicadas.
These medium-sized cicadas measure approximately 1.4 inches and display subtle brown and green coloration that provides excellent camouflage against mixed hardwood bark. Their distribution appears linked to specific elevation ranges and forest compositions, making them more localized than widespread annual species.
Robinson’s cicadas produce a distinctive call pattern described as a slow, pulsing rhythm with occasional rapid acceleration phases. This unique signature helps distinguish them from other late-summer species, though their lower population density means encounters require specific habitat targeting.
The species demonstrates strong fidelity to oak-dominated forest communities, particularly those with substantial chestnut oak and red oak components. Research suggests that historical chestnut blight impacts may have affected Robinson’s cicada populations by altering forest composition in their preferred habitats.
Key Insight: Robinson’s cicadas serve as indicator species for mature Appalachian forest communities. Their presence suggests long-term forest stability and minimal recent disturbance.
Conservation concerns for Robinson’s cicadas center on habitat fragmentation and climate-driven shifts in optimal elevation ranges. As temperatures warm, suitable habitat may shift to higher elevations, potentially constraining future population distributions within North Carolina’s mountain regions.
Southern Dog-day Cicada
The southern dog-day cicada (Neotibicen similaris) extends the cicada season well into September and occasionally early October, making it North Carolina’s latest-emerging annual species. These robust insects measure 1.7 to 2.1 inches, rivaling the standard dog-day cicada in size while displaying distinctive reddish-brown coloration with darker wing markings.
Southern dog-day cicadas prefer warmer microclimates and show strong associations with pine-dominated forests throughout North Carolina’s coastal plain and southeastern piedmont regions. Their extended emergence period coincides with early autumn weather patterns, when many other cicada species have completed their adult phase.
The species produces a loud, continuous call similar to standard dog-day cicadas but with a slightly lower pitch and more raspy quality. Males often call from pine trees during warm September afternoons, creating unexpected cicada choruses when most people associate the sound with midsummer conditions.
- Geographic Distribution: Concentrated in southeastern North Carolina with scattered populations elsewhere
- Habitat Preferences: Longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and mixed pine-hardwood forests
- Emergence Timing: Late August through early October, weather dependent
- Size Characteristics: Among the largest annual cicadas in North Carolina
- Call Features: Lower-pitched, raspy version of classic dog-day drone
Climate change research suggests that southern dog-day cicadas may be expanding their range northward and extending their season as autumn temperatures remain warmer longer. This adaptation demonstrates the species’ flexibility in response to changing environmental conditions.
Resonant Cicada
Resonant cicadas (Neotibicen resonans) produce the loudest calls among North Carolina’s annual species, with males capable of generating sounds exceeding 105 decibels when measured at close range. These impressive insects emerge during peak summer heat in July and August, preferring the mature hardwood forests found throughout the state’s diverse regions.
Measuring 1.5 to 1.9 inches, resonant cicadas display robust builds with distinctive black and green coloration and prominent eyes that appear almost metallic in bright sunlight. Their powerful calls can be heard over a half-mile away under ideal acoustic conditions, making them significant contributors to North Carolina’s summer soundscape.
The species demonstrates strong preferences for oak, maple, and tulip poplar trees, where males establish calling territories in the upper canopy. Research indicates that resonant cicadas may use their exceptionally loud calls to communicate across greater distances than other species, potentially facilitating gene flow between forest fragments.
Important Note: Resonant cicadas are sensitive to noise pollution and may alter their calling behavior near highways and urban areas. This acoustic interference could affect their reproductive success in developed landscapes.
Their lifecycle spans 3-4 years in North Carolina’s climate, with nymphs developing slowly in soil around established root systems. Adult emergence typically occurs during extended hot weather periods, when soil temperatures remain consistently high for several consecutive days.
Scientific monitoring suggests that resonant cicada populations serve as indicators of forest health and acoustic environment quality. Their presence indicates both suitable habitat conditions and minimal human-generated noise interference in natural areas.
Periodical Cicadas
North Carolina hosts six periodical cicada species that emerge in massive synchronized events every 13 or 17 years, creating some of nature’s most spectacular insect phenomena. These species belong to specific “broods” that emerge simultaneously across large geographic regions, with timing precisely coordinated by their extended underground development periods. Unlike annual species, periodical cicadas emerge in overwhelming numbers that can exceed 1.5 million individuals per acre during peak emergence years.
The state’s periodical cicadas belong primarily to Brood XIV (14), which emerges every 17 years, and scattered populations of 13-year broods in the southeastern regions. Understanding their complex lifecycle and emergence patterns provides insight into one of nature’s most remarkable timing mechanisms and the evolutionary advantages of synchronized reproduction.
17-Year Species
North Carolina’s 17-year periodical cicadas represent three distinct species that emerge simultaneously during Brood XIV events. These species evolved precise timing mechanisms that synchronize their emergence with specific environmental triggers, primarily soil temperature thresholds reached during late spring warming periods.
Magicicada septendecim
Magicicada septendecim serves as the most abundant 17-year species across North Carolina’s western and central regions. These distinctive black-bodied cicadas with bright red eyes and orange wing veins emerge en masse when soil temperatures reach 64°F at an 8-inch depth, typically occurring in late April or early May during emergence years.
Males of this species produce a distinctive “pharaoh” call—a loud, droning sound that rises and falls in intensity over 10-15 second intervals. When thousands call simultaneously, the combined sound can reach 100 decibels, creating an acoustic experience unlike any annual cicada emergence.
Pro Tip: The next Brood XIV emergence in North Carolina is scheduled for 2025, making this an exceptional year to witness one of nature’s most remarkable phenomena. Peak emergence typically lasts 4-6 weeks from initial appearance.
M. septendecim females use their saw-like ovipositors to create slits in small tree branches, depositing 20-30 eggs per site across multiple locations. This egg-laying behavior can cause “flagging” damage to young trees, though mature trees typically suffer no long-term harm from the process.
Research conducted during the 2008 Brood XIV emergence documented M. septendecim populations exceeding 300 individuals per square meter in optimal habitat conditions. These incredible densities serve multiple evolutionary purposes, including predator satiation and increased mating success through acoustic amplification.
Magicicada cassini
Magicicada cassini produces North Carolina’s most distinctive periodical cicada call, earning the nickname “dwarf cassini” despite reaching similar sizes as other 17-year species. Males create a series of short, sharp ticks followed by a brief buzzing sound, creating rhythmic patterns that distinguish them from their synchronized emergence partners.
These cicadas prefer hardwood forest edges and openings, where their unique call pattern helps maintain species isolation during the chaotic mass emergence period. M. cassini typically emerges slightly later than M. septendecim, extending the overall Brood XIV emergence period and providing temporal separation between peak activity phases.
The species demonstrates strong habitat preferences for oak-hickory forests with moderate canopy openings. Climate research suggests that M. cassini populations may be particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations during their critical emergence period, making them potential indicators of climate change impacts on periodical cicada broods.
Key Insight: M. cassini populations often concentrate along forest edges and cleared areas, making them more visible to observers than deep-forest species during emergence events.
Magicicada septendecula
The smallest of North Carolina’s 17-year species, Magicicada septendecula produces a continuous, high-pitched trill that creates a distinctive layer within the complex acoustic landscape of Brood XIV emergences. These cicadas typically measure slightly smaller than their relatives and prefer dense forest canopy conditions.
M. septendecula calls serve as an acoustic foundation during mass emergences, with their continuous trills providing a background against which other species’ calls can be distinguished. This acoustic partitioning demonstrates the complex evolutionary strategies that allow multiple closely related species to coexist during synchronized emergence events.
| 17-Year Species Comparison | M. septendecim | M. cassini | M. septendecula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call Pattern | Rising/falling pharaoh | Ticking + buzzing | Continuous trill |
| Habitat Preference | Mixed forests | Forest edges | Dense canopy |
| Relative Abundance | Most common | Moderate | Least common |
| Call Duration | 10-15 seconds | 3-5 seconds | Continuous |
The species’ preference for mature forest interiors makes it an excellent indicator of long-term forest stability and management practices. M. septendecula populations decline rapidly in areas subjected to significant canopy disturbance, making forest conservation crucial for maintaining viable populations during future emergence cycles.
13-Year Species
North Carolina’s southeastern regions host three 13-year periodical cicada species that emerge in smaller, more localized populations compared to the massive Brood XIV events. These species demonstrate the remarkable diversity within periodical cicada evolution and the complex biogeographic patterns that shaped their distribution across the southeastern United States.
Magicicada tredecim
Magicicada tredecim represents the 13-year counterpart to M. septendecim, sharing similar morphology and call patterns while operating on a shortened lifecycle. These cicadas emerge in scattered populations across North Carolina’s coastal plain and southeastern piedmont regions, typically in areas with sandy soils and specific temperature regimes.
The species produces the same pharaoh-style call as its 17-year relative, but research suggests slight acoustic differences that may facilitate species recognition during mixed emergence events. M. tredecim populations in North Carolina remain small and localized, making encounters relatively rare compared to the widespread Brood XIV emergences.
Habitat preferences mirror those of M. septendecim, with strong associations with oak and hickory dominated forests. However, the species shows greater tolerance for sandy soil conditions and appears adapted to the warmer, more variable climate conditions found in southeastern North Carolina.
Important Note: 13-year cicada populations in North Carolina face greater conservation challenges due to their smaller size and more fragmented distributions compared to 17-year broods.
Magicicada tredecassini
Magicicada tredecassini maintains the distinctive ticking and buzzing call pattern characteristic of cassini-group periodical cicadas while completing development in 13 years rather than 17. This species occurs in very limited populations within North Carolina, primarily in the southeastern coastal counties.
The species’ habitat requirements appear more restrictive than their 17-year counterparts, with populations concentrated in specific forest types that provide optimal soil temperature and moisture conditions for their accelerated development cycle. Climate change research suggests that 13-year species may be particularly vulnerable to shifting temperature and precipitation patterns.
Conservation efforts for M. tredecassini focus on protecting the small remaining forest patches where populations persist. Urban development and agricultural conversion pose significant threats to these already limited populations.
Magicicada tredecula
The 13-year equivalent of M. septendecula, Magicicada tredecula produces similar high-pitched trilling calls while completing development in the shorter timeframe characteristic of southern periodical cicadas. This species represents the rarest periodical cicada in North Carolina, with confirmed populations in only a handful of southeastern locations.
M. tredecula requires very specific habitat conditions, including mature forest canopy and optimal soil characteristics that support their accelerated development cycle. The species serves as an indicator of high-quality, undisturbed forest ecosystems in North Carolina’s southeastern regions.
Recent surveys suggest that M. tredecula populations may be declining due to habitat fragmentation and climate change impacts. Their small population sizes make them particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, highlighting the importance of protecting remaining habitat patches.
Common Mistake: Many observers assume all periodical cicadas in North Carolina emerge during Brood XIV events, overlooking the rare 13-year species that emerge on different cycles. Understanding these complex patterns requires careful documentation of emergence locations and timing.
Understanding Cicada Sounds and Timing
North Carolina’s diverse cicada community creates a complex acoustic landscape that changes throughout the summer season and varies dramatically between annual and periodical emergence years. Understanding these sound patterns and timing helps you identify species, predict peak activity periods, and appreciate the remarkable coordination that governs cicada behavior across different temporal scales.
Pro Tip: Download a sound recording app to document cicada calls in your area. Creating a personal acoustic library helps track species diversity and seasonal timing patterns in your specific location.
Annual cicada activity follows predictable seasonal patterns influenced by temperature, humidity, and daylight duration. Peak calling occurs during the hottest parts of summer afternoons, typically between 2-6 PM when air temperatures exceed 80°F. Different species show distinct preferences for calling times, with some preferring morning hours while others remain active well into evening.
Periodical cicadas operate on entirely different temporal scales, with their synchronized emergence creating brief periods of unprecedented acoustic intensity followed by years of relative quiet. During emergence years, the combined sound of millions of periodical cicadas can be heard for miles and may interfere with outdoor activities, phone conversations, and wildlife behavior patterns.
The evolutionary significance of cicada timing extends beyond simple reproduction, encompassing predator avoidance, resource competition, and climate adaptation strategies. Understanding these complex relationships provides insight into how insects coordinate behavior across landscapes and evolutionary time scales.
Frequently Asked Questions
The next Brood XIV emergence is scheduled for 2025, marking 17 years since the previous major emergence in 2008. This event will bring millions of periodical cicadas to North Carolina’s forests from late April through early June.
Adult cicadas cause minimal harm to healthy, mature trees. While females create small slits in branches to lay eggs, this rarely damages established trees. Young or newly planted trees may benefit from protective netting during heavy emergence years.
Cicadas prefer areas with mature trees, adequate soil moisture, and appropriate soil temperatures. Different species show preferences for specific tree types, elevation ranges, and forest compositions, explaining why some locations have higher cicada diversity than others.
The most reliable identification method combines call pattern recognition with observation of size, coloration, and habitat preferences. Annual species can be distinguished by their distinct call signatures, while periodical species require careful attention to emergence timing and geographic location.
Yes, cicadas serve as excellent environmental indicators. Their long development periods make them sensitive to soil contamination, climate change, and habitat disruption. Diverse cicada communities typically indicate healthy forest ecosystems with stable environmental conditions.
North Carolina’s 14 cicada species represent one of the most diverse assemblages in the southeastern United States, providing a remarkable window into insect ecology, evolution, and environmental adaptation.
From the reliable summer chorus of annual species to the spectacular synchronized emergences of periodical broods, these insects demonstrate nature’s capacity for both consistency and dramatic spectacle.
Whether you’re planning to experience the upcoming 2025 Brood XIV emergence or simply want to better appreciate the annual cicada sounds in your backyard, understanding these species enriches your connection to North Carolina’s natural heritage and the complex timing mechanisms that govern one of nature’s most persistent orchestras.
