Cicadas are insects often recognized by their buzzing calls during warmer months. Many people wonder about their presence in various regions, including Washington State. Their life cycles and noticeable sounds frequently lead to questions about where and when they can be found.
Understanding Cicadas in Washington State
Cicadas are present in Washington State, though the species found there differ from periodical cicadas that emerge in large numbers in the eastern and midwestern United States. Washington is primarily home to annual cicadas, sometimes called “dog-day cicadas,” which do not synchronize their emergence on long, multi-year cycles. While periodical cicadas emerge every 13 or 17 years, annual cicadas have life cycles typically ranging from two to ten years, with some individuals maturing each year, leading to yearly appearances.
The consistent presence of annual cicadas means some adults are seen and heard every summer. This differs from the synchronized emergences of periodical cicadas, which can involve trillions of individuals in affected states. Washington State entomologists confirm the state does not host large periodical broods, such as Brood X, due to environmental conditions and geographical barriers like the Rocky Mountains. Cicada activity in Washington is generally much quieter and less conspicuous than in areas experiencing periodical emergences.
Identifying Washington’s Cicadas
Cicadas have distinct physical characteristics. Adult cicadas are large insects, one to two inches long, with stout bodies and prominent compound eyes. They have short antennae and two pairs of clear, membranous wings with visible veins, held roof-like over their bodies when at rest. Washington’s common annual cicadas, such as the “orchard cicada” (Platypedia areolata) and various Okanagana species, often have black or greenish bodies, sometimes with orange or green wing veins.
Male cicadas produce loud sounds to attract mates, generated by vibrating drum-like structures called tymbals on their abdomen. These calls can vary by species, from a high-pitched buzz to a pulsating sound, and are often heard during the warmest parts of summer days. It is important to distinguish cicadas from locusts; despite historical confusion, cicadas are true bugs that feed on plant sap and do not swarm or cause widespread agricultural devastation like locusts, which are a type of grasshopper. Cicadas also do not bite or sting humans.
Habitat and Timing of Cicada Activity
Cicadas in Washington State can be found in various habitats, including forested areas, orchards, and drier shrub-steppe regions, particularly in Eastern Washington. While more prevalent in the eastern parts of the state, some species are also present in Western Washington. Their presence is tied to suitable environments where their nymphs can develop underground, feeding on xylem fluids from tree roots.
The emergence of adult cicadas in Washington occurs during the warm summer months, from July through September. This timing is influenced by soil temperature, which needs to reach a certain level for nymphs to emerge from underground. After emerging, molting into their adult form, and mating, female cicadas lay eggs in woody plant twigs. The nymphs then hatch, drop to the ground, and burrow into the soil to begin their long developmental period, feeding on root sap, before emerging as adults years later to repeat the cycle.