Is That Invasion of Cicadas Now Heading to Minnesota?

You might have heard about an invasion of cicadas creating a huge buzz across the country this year. So are they headed here-- and how loud will they be here in Minnesota?

If you've been following the national news lately, you might have heard about a mass invasion of cicadas underway across parts of the country, and the incredibly loud sound they're creating. According to this Associated Press (AP) story, cicadas in South Carolina are stirring up quite the buzz this spring:

Emerging cicadas are so loud in one South Carolina county that residents are calling the sheriff’s office asking why they can hear sirens or a loud roar. Some people have even flagged down deputies to ask what the noise is all about, Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said.

Those cicadas are a particular species of that insect which emerge in great numbers every 13 to 17 years, the AP said. And when they DO emerge, they usually do so in large numbers-- which is what's creating all that noise.

READ MORE: 6 MN State Parks With Fewer Bugs This Summer

But will we see-- and hear-- the same thing here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? We DO have cicadas here in Minnesota, of course. Cicadas here typically live in the tree canopy across Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says, and are usually prevalent throughout August and early September.

But THOSE Minnesota cicadas (called dog-day cicadas) are the type that emerge yearly-- not the periodical cicadas that go dormant and then emerge again in huge numbers, as is the case in other states like North Carolina, or even closer to home over in Wisconsin.

Get our free mobile app

The Univesity of Minnesota Extension explains more:

While other parts of the country are home to periodical cicadas, Minnesota is not. So the buzzing we hear as we enjoy our Minnesota summer will likely be roughly what we are used to this year.

So, no, we likely WON'T have to call our local sheriff's office to ask what that loud buzz is about (as they're doing in South Carolina), because things shouldn't be much different here in our neck of the woods.

If you're looking to hear some genuine cicadas later this summer, it helps if you're away from the metro area. Luckily, Minnesota has some fairly small towns where you can pretty much ONLY hear cicadas buzzing and crickets chirping this summer. Keep scrolling to check out the 25 Smallest Towns in Minnesota!

Listen to Curt St. John & Samm Adams
Weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5