The Dog-day Cicada is the familiar annual cicada of eastern North America, emerging each summer during the 'dog days' and producing an intense, whirring song from the treetops. Individual nymphs take 2–5 years to develop underground on tree roots but adults emerge every summer because generations are staggered. Males produce sound with drum-like tymbals in their abdomens.
Best time to see a Dog-day Cicada
The best time to see a Dog-day Cicada is July–August, when about 80% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 2,522 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Dog-day Cicada? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Dog-day Cicada sightings near you
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