Are There Cicadas in Tennessee?
Yes, cicadas are common throughout Tennessee, present in virtually every region and county. Annual cicadas are abundant and produce distinctive buzzing calls from mid-July through September. Periodical cicada broods occasionally pass through Tennessee, though their schedules are irregular and unpredictable. Both the eastern mountains and western plains support thriving cicada populations.
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
- 4,518
- GBIF records
- May, August, July
- peak months
Yes, cicadas are in Tennessee. Next you'll want:
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
8,835 verified observations on iNaturalist of cicada have been recorded in Tennessee, most often in May, August, July.
When cicada are recorded in Tennessee
Yes, cicadas are common throughout Tennessee, present in virtually every region and county. Annual cicadas are abundant and produce distinctive buzzing calls from mid-July through September. Periodical cicada broods occasionally pass through Tennessee, though their schedules are irregular and unpredictable. Both the eastern mountains and western plains support thriving cicada populations.
Where Cicadas Are Found in Tennessee
Cicadas inhabit every region of Tennessee wherever trees provide adequate habitat and food. Eastern Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding foothills support abundant cicada populations in oak, hickory, and mixed deciduous forests. The Cumberland Plateau provides excellent habitat with dense woodlands across multiple counties. Western Tennessee's Mississippi River bottomlands and associated hardwood forests host numerous cicadas. Middle Tennessee's rolling hills and mixed forests throughout the Highland Rim support active colonies. Forests along the Cumberland River and Tennessee River valleys provide prime habitat. State parks throughout Tennessee including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Frozen Head, and Montgomery Bell host thriving cicada populations. Private wooded properties across the state reliably support cicadas wherever mature trees exist. Urban parks and neighborhoods with substantial tree canopy in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga experience regular cicada activity. Suburban areas surrounding major cities typically hear cicada choruses each summer. Oak-hickory forests dominate cicada habitat throughout the state. Residential yards with established shade trees attract cicadas regularly. Learn more aboutTennessee's wildlifeto find the full range of summer insects and animals you might encounter during outdoor exploration.
When Cicadas Emerge in Tennessee
Cicadas in Tennessee typically begin calling in mid to late July, with peak activity occurring during the hottest weeks of August. The season continues into September and sometimes early October. The timing depends significantly on spring warmth. Warm springs accelerate nymph development, leading to earlier emergences. Cool or wet springs delay the start of the season. Periodical cicadas are less predictable in Tennessee. Though broods occasionally emerge, their schedules are irregular. Some areas have experienced periodical emergences while others have not, and timing cannot be reliably predicted. Most Tennesseans experience only annual cicadas unless they happen to be present during a rare periodical event. Tennessee's subtropical to warm temperate climate supports strong cicada populations with relatively consistent yearly patterns. Drought during developmental periods can suppress populations and reduce calling intensity. Conversely, adequate soil moisture supports vigorous development and intense summer choruses. Humidity levels influence calling behavior. Very hot, humid summer weather intensifies calling, often producing the loudest choruses during late afternoon and evening hours when temperatures are slightly cooler. Morning hours also feature intense calling activity. For more on cicada in Tennessee, see ourTennessee cicada guide.
How to Identify a Cicada
Adult cicadas in Tennessee are large insects ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length. Their strong, sturdy bodies are typically dark brown, blackish, or grayish. Wing veins frequently display reddish, orange, or amber coloration. Cicadas hold their wings tent-like or roof-like over their backs when at rest, creating a distinctive profile. Male cicadas possess specialized structures on their abdomens called tymbals that generate loud buzzing and humming sounds. Females lack these sound-producing organs and remain silent. Both sexes have large compound eyes positioned toward the sides of their heads. Small simple eyes called ocelli are arranged between the compound eyes. They feed using needle-like piercing mouthparts adapted for accessing plant xylem sap. Underground nymphs are tan or light brown and somewhat resemble enlarged crickets. They feature powerful digging front legs specially adapted for burrowing through soil. Nymphs can be encountered when tilling gardens, digging, or turning soil in infested areas. The transformation from nymph to adult happens above ground and is dramatic, with the nymph shedding its exoskeleton to reveal the winged adult. Newly emerged adults are pale and soft, gradually hardening and darkening over one or two days. These identification features help distinguish cicadas as you exploreTennessee's diverse wildlife.
Where Sightings Concentrate in Tennessee
Cicadas concentrate in Tennessee wherever tree density is high and host plants like oak, hickory, and ash thrive. Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding foothills provide extensive forest habitat supporting exceptional cicada populations. The Cumberland Plateau's old-growth and mature forests maintain particularly strong cicada presence. Valley regions including the Tennessee River valley and Cumberland River valley support active colonies in riparian forests. Stone State Forest and other state forests throughout the mountains provide excellent habitat. Public parks and recreational areas throughout Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis with substantial tree canopy host regular cicada activity. Private residential properties with mature shade trees throughout all regions consistently hear cicada choruses. Golf courses and landscaped properties with diverse tree plantings often attract cicadas. Wildlife management areas and state forests support excellent populations. The Mississippi River lowlands and associated bottomland hardwood forests in western Tennessee support particularly active cicada populations. Swamp edges and areas where hardwood forests border open water attract numerous cicadas. Urban parks in all major cities with mature tree inventories host cicadas. Cicadas call primarily from high in trees and shrubs, making exact locations challenging to pinpoint. Listening from different vantage points helps identify concentration areas. ExploreTennessee's wildlife hubfor additional information about seasonal patterns and other wildlife.
Cicada Behavior and Life Cycle
Tennessee cicadas follow a multi-year life cycle typical of annual cicada species. The cycle usually spans two to five years from initial egg-laying through adult emergence and reproduction. Females lay eggs in small slits cut into twigs and branches. Eggs typically hatch within two to three weeks. Tiny nymphs immediately fall to the ground and burrow into soil, beginning their extended underground phase. Underground nymphs feed on plant root sap and grow slowly, molting multiple times as they increase in size. Tennessee's warm climate supports relatively rapid development compared to northern states. Environmental conditions including soil temperature, moisture, and nutrient availability influence development speed. When nymphs reach final development, they pupate and prepare for emergence. Nymphs emerge when soil temperatures and day length trigger appropriate developmental cues. Emergences typically occur in evening hours. Nymphs crawl upward through soil and climb nearby vegetation or structures. Upon reaching a suitable location above ground, the nymph undergoes a dramatic transformation. The old exoskeleton splits, and the soft adult emerges within hours. Adults harden and darken over one or two days as their wings expand fully. Males begin calling within days, establishing territories in trees and shrubs. Females seek calling males and mate. After successful mating, females begin depositing eggs immediately, continuing the cycle. You can also browseTennessee wildlife.
Coexistence and Safety Notes
Cicadas are completely harmless to humans and domestic animals throughout Tennessee. They do not bite, sting, or produce any venom or toxins. They pose no threat whatsoever to people, children, or pets. Their only interaction with humans consists of producing the familiar buzzing and humming sounds. The only minor concern is potential branch damage from egg-laying. Female cicadas create small slits in twigs to deposit eggs, and those twigs may wilt or lose leaves below the cut. On healthy mature trees, this damage is minimal and causes no lasting harm to the tree's health. Young trees, saplings, or valuable ornamental plantings might benefit from temporary protective netting during peak season if branch damage is a concern. Cicadas provide important ecological services as key components of Tennessee's food webs. They provide critical food for birds, mammals, and other insects during summer months when many animals are breeding or raising young. Robins, blue jays, cardinals, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, and numerous other bird species feed on adult cicadas. Raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and other mammals consume nymphs and emerging adults. This food source is particularly valuable for songbirds during the breeding season. You are welcome to observe and listen to cicadas throughout Tennessee's parks and natural areas. Visitthe wildlife hubto learn about other insects and animals that share Tennessee's environment.
Species Confused with Cicadas
Katydids are large grasshoppers that are occasionally confused with cicadas in Tennessee. Though similar in size, katydids are typically green or brown, possess extremely long thin antennae, and produce distinctly different calls. Katydid vocalizations consist of rasping, clicking, or 'katy-did' patterns rather than continuous buzzing. Katydids are generally more delicate and graceful in appearance than strong cicadas. Locusts, which are also grasshoppers, sometimes cause confusion. True locusts are generally smaller than cicadas, have long antennae, and lack the specialized sound-producing structures found on cicadas. Cicada hawk wasps are large solitary wasps that hunt cicadas as food for their larvae. While they can superficially resemble cicadas in size, they have distinctly different body shapes, more streamlined builds, and different wing structures. They are clearly predatory insects. Ascalaphids and dobsonflies might confuse newcomers, but these are aquatic or semi-aquatic insects with distinctly different body shapes and ecological roles. Dragonflies are aquatic insects with very different body proportions and behavior. The most reliable distinguishing feature is the combination of strong body shape, large prominent compound eyes, and males producing continuous loud buzzing or humming sounds through specialized abdominal vibrating structures found nowhere else in Tennessee's insect fauna.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do male cicadas produce such loud buzzing and humming sounds? Male cicadas produce sound to attract females for mating. The buzz is created by vibrating specialized abdominal membranes called tymbals at extremely high frequencies, sometimes exceeding 4,000 vibrations per second. Each cicada species produces distinctly different call patterns, allowing females to locate and identify males of their own species. How long do adult cicadas live above ground? Adult cicadas typically live just three to six weeks in their above-ground form. Their entire existence as adults is devoted to feeding and reproduction. The vast majority of their multi-year life cycle is spent as underground nymphs. The short adult lifespan creates evolutionary pressure for rapid and efficient reproduction. Why are cicadas so much louder in some years than others? Variation in cicada abundance and calling intensity results from environmental conditions. Warm, wet springs support strong nymph development, leading to more numerous emergences and louder choruses. Cool or dry springs result in fewer emergences and reduced calling intensity. Population synchronization also affects loudness. Do cicadas damage trees in Tennessee? Cicadas cause minimal damage to healthy mature trees. The egg-laying slits made by females are small and rarely cause significant harm. Young trees, ornamental plantings, or nursery stock might suffer more noticeable branch loss and could benefit from temporary protective netting during peak emergence periods if damage is a significant concern.
Plan your cicada sighting in Tennessee
4,518 verified cicada records have been logged in Tennessee, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Tennessee
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Natchez Trace Parkway · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Obed Wild & Scenic River · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
More places to see cicada
More wildlife in Tennessee