It’s kind of the lull before the cicada storm of sounds in the bluegrass. Certain regions of the Commonwealth have already gotten a taste of the Brood X cicada, which comes up out of the ground after 17 years.
Much of central Kentucky did not experience that cicada’s mating call. But, University of Kentucky Entomologist Jonathan Larson said just wait a few more weeks for the annual cicada to emerge. “They’re down in the soil profile, feeding on tree roots, sucking sap out of there and I think they’ll be coming up to become adults, leave those shells behind on all your trees. Your kids can go out and collect them if they want. It will be sort of normal business for those cicadas this year,” said Larson.
Larson noted the annual cicadas register about an inch and a half while the periodicals are smaller, with different markings.
He said weather conditions can play a role in determining when cicadas take to the trees. In fact, Larson added, the periodical cicadas did show up a couple of weeks later than expected. The UK insect specialist said the bluegrass region is scheduled to see its large periodical infestation in 2025.
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