Cicada Watch: Brood 19 Emerges in Buncombe County After 13 Years Underground

Cicada Watch: Brood 19 Emerges in Buncombe County After 13 Years Underground

Whether you love it or hate it, the song of the cicada is a familiar one across Western North Carolina every June. Nationally in 2024, we have two emergences. One is a 17-year brood, and the other is a 13-year brood. It is the first time they have emerged together since 1803. The 13-year brood is the species we haven’t seen in Buncombe County since 2011 — which is Brood 19. Once the soil hits a steady 64 degrees Fahrenheit at about 8″ deep, it’s a signal for them to emerge. We are already seeing Brood 19 cicadas in warmer sections of the North and South Carolina Piedmont. We will see them in WNC soon, but only in very localized spots in Buncombe County. This special brood will overlap with our annual, or dog-day cicadas, so it might be extra noisy and buggy in spots!

Cicada Mania: What to Know About the 13-Year Emergence of Brood XIX (19)

The periodical cicada, when it emerges, it only travels up to 200 feet. There’s going to be really localized hot spots where we see the emergence happening, so you might have an emergence in your backyard, but your neighbor might not. So that’s really cool, and if you do get the opportunity to see them, you should count yourself lucky.

The periodical cicada is often confused with other vegetation-damaging species, such as locusts. However, as Owens tells us, even when found in large population densities, these cicadas do not harm plants, people, or pets. “They don’t really have a defense mechanism; they don’t bite, sting, or do anything like that. They are emerging in mass number to make sure they can lay as many eggs as they can and avoid predators,” Owen said. “Ecologically, there really is no damage associated with it. Birds, snakes, all of these different organisms are going to have a lot more food this year.”

Cicadas Are So Noisy in a South Carolina County that Residents Are Calling the Police

Brood 19 cicadas are unique with reddish-orange eyes, and black bodies with orange wings, legs, and abdomen stripes. The warm stretch of weather we are in now, coupled with a warm spring rain Saturday, May 4, should have this brood buzzing in parts of Buncombe County soon — mainly in the southern part, near Arden. I’ll be meeting back up with Luke in the next week or two to track down cicadas from this brood, so stay tuned!

For more information on this emergence or to share what you are seeing, you can connect with Luke here. Of course, we always like to see your pictures and videos. For more information on the cicada emergency in Buncombe County, click here.

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