Are There Cicadas in Wisconsin?

Where Cicadas Are Found in Wisconsin

Cicadas in Wisconsin concentrate in areas with oak, hickory, and mixed hardwood forests. Southern Wisconsin, particularly the driftless region from Madison to the Mississippi River valley, supports established populations. The oak-dominated forests of the Baraboo Hills and Devil's Lake area in south-central Wisconsin host cicadas reliably. The central Wisconsin forests around the Northwoods provide suitable habitat, though populations are less dense than in the southern part of the state. The Door County peninsula at the tip of Lake Michigan supports populations in its mixed oak and maple forests. The riparian zones along the Wisconsin River, the Mississippi River, and the Rock River systems host established cicada areas. Northern Wisconsin's coniferous forests are less favorable for cicadas than the oak-dominated southern regions. Even relatively developed areas with mature shade trees in Milwaukee, Madison, and other urban centers attract cicadas during favorable years. Learn more aboutWisconsin wildlifeto explore the state's diverse ecosystems.

Season and Timing in Wisconsin

Wisconsin cicadas typically emerge from late June through August, with peak calling activity occurring in July and early August when summer temperatures peak. Annual cicada species are the dominant type, emerging sporadically each year with varying population sizes depending on weather conditions and soil moisture. Periodical cicadas occur in Wisconsin as well, though the state lies on the margins of the primary brood ranges. Southern Wisconsin occasionally experiences portions of 13-year and 17-year brood emergences, but these events are unpredictable in frequency and intensity. When periodical broods do emerge in Wisconsin, they create notable but less overwhelming events than in eastern states. The northern portions of Wisconsin rarely experience periodical cicada activity. Cool spring temperatures and short growing seasons in Wisconsin mean underground nymph development may extend longer than in warmer states. Emergence timing is temperature-dependent; warmer springs bring earlier cicada emergence, while cool springs delay it. For more on cicada in Wisconsin, see ourWisconsin cicada guide.

How to Identify a Cicada

Wisconsin cicadas are medium-sized insects ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches long. Most display brownish, gray, or tan coloration that blends well with tree bark. Wisconsin cicada bodies are strong and built for clinging rather than active flight. Male cicadas produce the distinctive buzzing, droning, or whining calls characteristic of the group, with sounds originating from specialized tymbal structures on their abdomens. These tymbals vibrate hundreds of times per second, generating surprisingly loud sounds from small insects. Females are silent but otherwise similar in appearance to males, lacking visible tymbal plates. Both sexes possess relatively short antennae on their heads and long, straw-like beaks held underneath their bodies. Molted exoskeletons called shells cling tightly to tree bark and branches and can remain visible for weeks or months after adults have died. You can also browseWisconsin wildlife.

Where Sightings Concentrate in Wisconsin

Cicada sightings in Wisconsin concentrate in southern and central oak-dominated regions. Devil's Lake State Park in south-central Wisconsin provides excellent habitat in its surrounding forests and offers comfortable areas for observing cicadas during peak season. The Driftless Area's rugged topography and extensive oak forests from Madison west toward the Mississippi River valley support consistent populations. The Baraboo Hills area near Sauk City hosts reliable populations in its oak-hickory forests. The riparian forests along the Wisconsin River between Portage and Rhinelander provide good habitat accessible to nature fans. Door County's Sturgeon Bay area and the surrounding mixed oak and maple forests support populations that emerge during warm years. Metropolitan areas like Milwaukee and Madison with mature park trees and residential shade trees attract cicadas, making urban observation possible. Northern Wisconsin forests dominated by conifers are generally poor cicada habitat and rarely produce sightings. See all of ourwildlife guides.

Typical Cicada Behavior

Wisconsin cicadas spend years underground as nymphs, feeding on root xylem fluids through their piercing beaks. After emerging as adults, they immediately climb into trees and begin feeding on above-ground plant parts. Males establish calling positions and produce vocalizations designed to attract distant females and compete with other males. Cicada calls vary by species, ranging from constant buzzing to pulsating rhythms and other distinctive patterns. Males concentrate their calling during warm daylight hours, typically from mid-morning through early afternoon. Females attracted to calling males locate suitable mates and lay eggs by cutting small slits into tree twigs and branches. Newly hatched nymphs drop to soil and burrow down for underground development lasting years. Most Wisconsin cicadas are annual species completing underground development faster than periodical cicadas, though exact development times vary by species and environmental conditions. Adult cicadas live only weeks, from emergence through reproduction completion and natural death.

Coexistence and Safety Notes

Cicadas are completely harmless to people and pets. They do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. If roughly handled, they may attempt to pierce skin with their beaks in search of plant fluids, but this rarely occurs and causes no injury. Cicadas produce only negligible damage to trees during egg-laying; the small twig incisions pose no real threat to tree health or vigor. In Wisconsin's temperate climate with relatively modest cicada populations, noise is seldom a concern even during peak calling periods. Cicadas provide important food for birds, spiders, reptiles, and parasitic wasps, making them valuable ecosystem members. Some Wisconsinites enjoy the cicada chorus as part of the natural summer soundscape, while others simply appreciate these insects as part of the regional fauna. Aguide to cicadas in Wisconsinprovides detailed species-specific information. Killing cicadas is unnecessary; they cause no damage and complete their life cycles in just weeks.

Species People Confuse with Cicadas

The most common confusion involves cicadas and grasshoppers. Grasshoppers have elongated bodies with very long hind legs designed for jumping and produce sounds by rubbing legs against their bodies. Cicadas are stockier and more compact, with short legs built for clinging to bark and tymbals for sound production. Katydids are sometimes mistaken for cicadas, though katydids have flatter bodies, longer antennae, and distinctly different call patterns. Locusts, despite their name, are actually grasshoppers in a swarming phase and differ greatly from cicadas in appearance and behavior. Cicada killers are large parasitic wasps that hunt cicadas; people occasionally mistake the wasp for its cicada prey. Empty molted shells are sometimes confused with living insects. In Wisconsin, where cicadas are relatively less abundant than in states to the south, many residents have limited reference for comparison, making sound recognition the most reliable identification method.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cicadas

Q: Why are Wisconsin cicadas quieter than eastern cicadas? A: Wisconsin populations are smaller and more dispersed than eastern periodical broods. Fewer calling males means quieter overall choruses, though individual insects produce similar sound intensity as their eastern counterparts.

Q: Will periodical cicadas emerge in Wisconsin soon? A: Periodical cicada emergences in Wisconsin are unpredictable because the state sits on the margins of brood ranges. When they do occur, they are typically much smaller events than in eastern states.

Q: Do cicadas damage Wisconsin forests and trees? A: Cicada damage is minimal and temporary. Tree twig incisions for egg-laying pose no real threat, and Wisconsin's forests recover quickly from any impacts.

Q: What should I do if I find cicada shells? A: Empty shells are harmless and make interesting natural curiosities. Collecting shells from ground or trees is acceptable. Live cicadas should be left undisturbed to complete their reproductive cycle. Visit thenational wildlife hubto explore other wildlife and ecosystems across North America.