Parts of eastern Ohio are experiencing a four-year acceleration of Brood V.  Brood V, a 17-year cicada brood, is next expected to emerge in 2016 over much of eastern Ohio, but this year, some of these 17-year cicadas are emerging four year ahead of schedule.

This is not the first time a four-year acceleration has occurred in Ohio in recent years.  Four-year accelerations also occurred in 1983, 1995, 2000, and 2008.  The 1995 emergence was also an early emergence of Brood V.  Except for the 2000 acceleration, there is little evidence that these other emergences resulted in enough cicadas to mate and reproduce as they were quickly eaten by the periodical cicadas many predators.

Periodical cicadas belonging the 17-year brood I are emerging in western Virginia.  Details for Brood I can be seen on the cicada map page at this site.

Biologists at the College of Mount St. Joseph are asking Ohioans who see periodical cicadas to report the details of the emergence by selecting the link below.

Click here to report an emergence in Ohio.