For most Kentucky cicada enthusiasts, it's 'Wait 'til next year'

Some Kentuckians are likely wondering, “What happened to the great cicada emergence of 2024?” Ric Bessin is an extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky. He said many expected a big crop of cicadas this summer due to media coverage of an unusual co-emergence of 13- and 17-year broods.

“I think a lot of people felt like they missed out on it, but we really weren't supposed to have this across the state.”

Bessin said the cicadas did show up in much of western Kentucky, as planned, and as forecast nearly a century ago.

“We use maps. And I just looked up when those maps were created. It was 1907, when, when the maps of the cicada broods were published. And those maps are still very accurate today.”

Bessin said next year will be a different story in central and eastern Kentucky, as Brood 14 will tunnel out of the earth and begin calling, very loudly, for companionship. He said folks interested in next year’s cicada emergence might want to look for a rare blue-eyed version – what some might consider a less creepy brand of the bug-eyed insect.

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