How Many Weeks Does a Cicada Brood Stay Above Ground?
If you are wondering how long will the cicadas be out, the short answer is that the noisy adult phase lasts for a few weeks, not all summer. For many people, the season feels intense because the insects emerge in huge numbers, then spend their brief adult life mating, laying eggs, and dying off. The exact timing depends on the brood, local weather, and where you live, but the above-ground show is measured in weeks, not months.
How Long Cicadas Stay Above Ground
Adult cicadas stay above ground for about 4 to 6 weeks after emergence. In that window, they climb, harden their wings, call, mate, and lay eggs. After that, most adults die, and the loud chorus drops fast. If you are asking how long are cicadas out, this is the main answer, the visible adult stage is short and tightly timed.
What the full life cycle means
Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on root sap for years, then emerge as adults for a brief final stage. That is why the event feels sudden and intense. The underground years are long, but the time people notice in yards, trees, and streets is short. In other words, how long do the cicadas last above ground is not the same as how long they live overall.
When Cicadas Go Away
Most cicadas begin fading out after mating and egg laying, which starts soon after they harden their wings. Once the adults have finished that work, their numbers drop quickly. If you are asking when will cicadas go away or when do the cicadas leave, the practical answer is late in the emergence season, once the adults have completed reproduction and die off.
What controls the timing
Weather matters. Warm soil brings nymphs out faster, while cool, wet conditions can delay the start. A single brood can also vary by region, so one neighborhood may hear cicadas for a shorter span than another. If you want a simple rule, count from the first mass emergence in your area, then expect the main adult activity to end in about a month to six weeks.
Why the Noise Lasts Less Than the Brood
People often assume the cicadas stay around for a whole season because the sound seems constant. In reality, the loudest period lasts only until most males have mated and the adults start dying off. This is why how long will the cicadas stay here and how long will the cicadas be out have the same answer for homeowners, a brief but concentrated adult period.
Daily behavior during the adult stage
Cicadas are most active during warm daylight hours. Males call from trees, females respond, and mating follows. After mating, females cut slits in small twigs and deposit eggs. The adults do not feed much as they age, and they do not stay above ground to build colonies or remain in the landscape for long. Their whole purpose is reproduction.
What You Will See During the Outbreak
During the first days, you will see many adults climbing tree trunks, fences, and siding. Their shells split, wings expand, and the adults harden. A week or two later, the canopy fills with calling males. By the end of the cycle, you will find shed skins, egg-laying damage on small branches, and dead adults on the ground. This progression shows why how long do the cicadas stay around depends on which part of the adult period you are noticing.
Common signs the peak is ending
- Fewer loud calls in the morning and afternoon.
- More dead adults under trees.
- Less climbing activity on walls, posts, and trunks.
- Egg-laying slits on twigs, but fewer newly emerged adults.
How to Live With Cicadas Until They Leave
The best approach is simple protection, not chemical control. Cicadas do not damage healthy, mature trees in a lasting way, but they can stress young trees and shrubs when they lay eggs. If you want to reduce problems while waiting for them to leave, use exclusion and basic yard care. This keeps the focus on natural management and avoids harsh sprays.
- Cover young trees and vulnerable shrubs with fine mesh netting before peak emergence.
- Secure the netting all the way to the ground so adults cannot crawl inside.
- Water young plants deeply once a week during dry weather to reduce stress.
- Prune only damaged twigs after the brood passes, not during peak activity.
- Keep outdoor lights low at night to avoid drawing extra insects near entrances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are cicadas out in one area?
In one area, the adult cicadas are out for about 4 to 6 weeks. The exact span starts with the first big emergence and ends after mating and egg laying finish. The underground brood lasts much longer, but the part people see and hear is short.
How long do the cicadas stay around after they emerge?
They stay around long enough to harden, mate, and lay eggs, then most die. That adult phase lasts a few weeks. If you are asking when will the cicadas leave, expect a noticeable drop once the main mating period ends.
When will cicadas leave my yard?
They leave on their own as the adults complete reproduction and die off. You do not need to remove them. For most yards, the heavy presence fades within a month or so after the first emergence, then tapers quickly.
How long do the cicadas last overall?
The adult cicadas last only weeks, but the brood cycle lasts years underground. That long underground stage is why a brood seems rare and dramatic when it appears. The visible part is short, the full life cycle is long.
Will cicadas come back every year?
Some cicadas appear annually, but the famous broods return on long schedules, such as 13 or 17 years. That means the same brood does not show up every spring. The adult event ends in weeks, then the next appearance waits years.