Are There Cicadas in Maryland?
Yes, cicadas are very common throughout Maryland, particularly during hot summer months. Both annual cicadas and periodical cicadas emerge in the state, creating their characteristic loud buzzing sounds across woodlands, forests, and residential yards. Residents throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and inland areas regularly encounter these insects. They are well-established and appear reliably each year.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Cassin's 17-year Cicada · Nick Tobler (Cowturtle) CC BY
Dark Lyric Cicada · Cecil Smith CC BY
Prairie Cicada · Peter Chen 2.0 CC BY
- 8
- species recorded
- 8,048
- GBIF records
- May, June, August
- peak months
Yes, cicadas are in Maryland. Next you'll want:
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
14,681 verified observations on iNaturalist of cicada have been recorded in Maryland, most often in May, June, August.
When cicada are recorded in Maryland
Yes, cicadas are very common throughout Maryland, particularly during hot summer months. Both annual cicadas and periodical cicadas emerge in the state, creating their characteristic loud buzzing sounds across woodlands, forests, and residential yards. Residents throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and inland areas regularly encounter these insects. They are well-established and appear reliably each year.
Where Cicadas Are Found in Maryland
Cicadas are found across the entire state of Maryland, from the Eastern Shore along the Chesapeake Bay to the western Appalachian region near the Conococheague Creek and North Branch of the Potomac River. They thrive in deciduous and mixed forests throughout the state, including areas around Catoctin Mountain National Park, the Shenandoah Valley edge regions, and along river valleys such as the Patuxent River and the Gunpowder River. Urban and suburban zones with mature trees host significant populations, especially in Baltimore and the Washington D.C. metropolitan area surrounding Maryland. The Dorchester marshlands and areas near Assawoman Bay have cicada populations, though they are more abundant in woodlands. Checkcicada pagesand theMaryland wildlife hubfor more state-specific guides.
Seasonal Timing and Activity in Maryland
In Maryland, annual cicadas typically emerge from late May through August, with peak activity occurring in July and early August when temperatures are warmest. Periodical cicadas appear on a 13 or 17 year cycle, depending on the brood, and when they emerge in Maryland they can create dramatic choruses lasting several weeks. The loud buzzing calls intensify during the hottest parts of the day and continue into evening hours. Before emergence, nymphs spend years underground, feeding on root sap from trees. Once adults emerge, they climb onto tree trunks and branches, shed their exoskeletons, and begin calling to attract mates. Visit theMaryland wildlife hubto learn about other seasonal visitors to the state.
How to Identify a Cicada
Cicadas are large insects, typically 1 to 2 inches long, with cylindrical bodies and prominent compound eyes positioned on the sides of their heads. Most Maryland species have black or brownish bodies with translucent wings that are held tent-like over the abdomen when resting. Annual cicadas often display red or orange patches on their upper abdomens or wing undersides. You can identify them by their large, piercing mouthparts used for feeding on plant sap. Periodical cicadas from eastern broods often have red eyes and black bodies. The males produce the characteristic loud buzzing or whining call using special sound-producing organs called tymbals located on the sides of the abdomen. Females are typically silent and lack these singing structures. For more on cicada in Maryland, see ourMaryland cicada guide.
Where Cicadas Concentrate in Maryland
Cicadas concentrate in areas with mature trees, especially oak and ash species that they prefer for feeding and egg-laying. Deciduous forests surrounding the Patuxent River and lower Potomac River floodplains support dense populations. Tree-lined suburban neighborhoods throughout Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County have abundant cicadas during emergence season. The Catoctin Mountain region in Frederick County provides ideal habitat with its dense forest canopy. Parks such as Patuxent River State Park and areas along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline where sycamore and hickory trees grow also host significant numbers. Residential gardens with large shade trees attract cicadas seeking places to lay eggs. The more mature trees in a location, the more cicadas you are likely to encounter during the summer emergence season. You can also browseMaryland wildlife.
Typical Cicada Behavior and Diet
Cicadas are herbivorous insects that feed entirely on plant sap drawn from trees and woody shrubs using their specialized piercing mouthparts. Adult cicadas emerge from the soil seeking trees where they continue feeding and locate mates through calling. Males produce their loud buzzing calls by vibrating specialized abdominal structures called tymbals, which can reach volumes over 100 decibels. Females locate calling males and mate, then lay eggs by inserting them into small slits they cut into tree twigs and branches. The nymphs hatch after a few weeks and immediately burrow into the soil where they spend the next several years feeding on root sap from nearby trees. This underground phase lasts anywhere from one to seventeen years depending on the species. Adult cicadas live only a few weeks above ground. See all of ourwildlife guides.
Cicada Safety and Coexistence Notes
Cicadas are harmless to humans and pose no threat to people or pets. They do not bite, sting, or carry diseases. The noise they produce during summer can be loud enough to disturb some people, but this is their natural reproductive behavior and nothing more. Trees can sometimes suffer minor damage when female cicadas lay eggs in twigs, but this is rarely serious for established trees. Some people prefer to simply enjoy the natural soundscape that cicadas create as part of the season. There are no legal protections for harming cicadas, but they serve as important food sources for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. Respect for these insects as part of Maryland's natural ecosystem enhances outdoor experience. If cicada noise bothers you, spending time indoors or moving away from wooded areas during peak calling hours helps.
Species Confused with Cicadas
Several other insects are commonly mistaken for cicadas in Maryland. Katydids (bush crickets) produce loud calls in late summer and early fall but have flat, leaf-like wings and are smaller than most cicadas. Grasshoppers are more compact with shorter antennae and are primarily active during day. Locusts (which are actually a type of grasshopper) lack the specialized buzzing organs that cicadas possess. Awning clover hoppers and leafhoppers may be found on plants but are much smaller and have different body shapes. Tree crickets produce high-pitched trilling sounds but are much more delicate insects. The most consistent way to identify a cicada is its large cylindrical body, prominent eyes, and distinctive buzzing or whining call produced during daylight hours. If you spot a large insect on a tree trunk with translucent wings and hear buzzing sounds, it is almost certainly a cicada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are cicadas so loud and what are they trying to do? A: Male cicadas produce extremely loud calls to attract females for mating. The sound can exceed 100 decibels and is their primary method of finding mates during the breeding season. Q: Do cicada bites or stings hurt humans? A: Cicadas cannot bite or sting humans. They lack the mouth parts for biting and have no stinging apparatus. They are completely harmless to people. Q: How long do cicadas live as adults? A: Adult cicadas typically live only four to six weeks above ground. During this time they feed, mate, and lay eggs. The long part of their life cycle happens underground as nymphs. Q: Will cicadas damage my trees and garden? A: Cicada damage to trees is usually minimal. Egg-laying can create small slits in twigs but rarely kills the tree. Most trees recover quickly from this minor damage.
Plan your cicada sighting in Maryland
8,048 verified cicada records have been logged in Maryland, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Maryland
- Antietam National Battlefield · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Assateague Island National Seashore · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chesapeake Bay · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
More places to see cicada
More wildlife in Maryland