Cicadas generally cannot hurt people: they do not sting, and they are not equipped to bite humans defensively. Their sudden appearance and loud calls can be startling, but the main concerns are accidental contact, noise, and possible damage to young trees—not attacks on people.
That answer applies to cicadas commonly encountered in yards, parks, and wooded areas. A cicada may land on someone or cling to clothing, and its feet can feel prickly, but it is not trying to feed on a person. Understanding how these insects live helps explain why they sometimes seem alarming and what, if anything, you need to do around them.
Why Cicadas Seem Threatening
Cicadas can appear in large numbers, make a powerful chorus, and fly clumsily around people. Those traits can make an ordinary insect encounter feel like an attack. In reality, their behavior is not predatory. Adults are focused on mating and laying eggs, not on approaching people as food or enemies.
Many cicadas spend most of their lives underground as immature insects, feeding on fluids from plant roots. When mature, they emerge, climb onto a surface, shed their old outer covering, and become winged adults. The discarded shell may remain attached to a tree trunk or other object. An emerging cicada can be soft-bodied and pale at first, then darken and harden as its adult body develops.
Some kinds emerge every year, while others have life cycles that keep them underground for a long time before a synchronized emergence. That difference explains why a neighborhood may hear cicadas regularly but experience a dramatic swarm only occasionally. The timing and species vary by region.
Can Cicadas Bite or Sting?
Cicadas do not have a stinger. They also do not have the kind of biting mouthparts used by animals that chew or tear skin. Their mouthparts are adapted for drawing fluids from plants, particularly xylem sap. They are not designed to bite people, and cicadas do not feed on blood.
A cicada may grip skin or fabric with its legs if it lands on someone. The small claws can feel like a scratch or pinch, especially if the insect is startled or handled. This is different from a bite: the insect is holding on, not trying to pierce skin to eat. A startled cicada may also flap its wings or take off suddenly, which can be more startling than the contact itself.
It is sensible not to squeeze or deliberately handle a cicada. If one lands on you, calmly brush it away or let it crawl onto a nearby surface. Avoid pulling it by a wing or leg; this can injure the insect and make the encounter more awkward.
Can Cicadas Poison People or Spread Disease?
Cicadas are not venomous, and their ordinary presence is not considered a human poisoning hazard. They are not known as important transmitters of disease to people. A cicada landing on you, or a shed shell touching your clothing, does not by itself call for special treatment.
As with contact with any outdoor insect, wash your hands after handling one and avoid rubbing your eyes or putting your hands in your mouth until they are clean. This is a general hygiene practice, not a sign that cicadas are unusually dangerous. If a person has a concerning reaction after contact, the cause cannot be identified from the insect encounter alone; seek guidance from a qualified health professional for individual concerns.
Do not assume that every symptom occurring outdoors was caused by a cicada. Other insects or unrelated causes may be involved, and cicadas are often noticed simply because they are conspicuous. The important distinction is that cicadas themselves are not equipped to sting or inject venom.
What to Do If a Cicada Lands on You
Most encounters require no special response. Cicadas may fly toward a person because they are moving through the air, not because they are targeting that person. If one lands on your clothing, a calm, simple response is usually enough.
- Pause and let the insect settle rather than swatting wildly.
- Brush it gently toward a nearby tree, wall, or other surface.
- If it clings to fabric, avoid crushing it against your skin while removing it.
- Wash your hands after direct handling, especially before eating or touching your face.
People who find flying insects frightening can reduce surprise by closing windows during a noisy emergence, using screens, and choosing a different route around a dense cluster. These steps are for comfort; they are not needed to protect against cicada attacks.
Are Cicadas Dangerous to Children or Pets?
Cicadas do not seek out children or pets, and their inability to sting makes them much less concerning than insects with defensive stingers. A child or animal may still be startled by a sudden flight or loud chorus. Supervise young children around unfamiliar insects and discourage anyone from putting a cicada in their mouth.
Some pets may chase, paw at, or eat insects they find. Eating a small number of cicadas is not generally considered a poisoning emergency, but a pet that eats many insects or develops troubling symptoms should be discussed with a veterinarian. The practical concern is not that cicadas inject poison; it is that large amounts of unfamiliar material, or other circumstances, can upset an individual animal.
Do not let a pet chew on an insect that may have been exposed to pesticides, and do not use chemical treatments around animals without checking the product label and appropriate professional guidance. If you are unsure what a pet has eaten or how it is reacting, contact a veterinarian.
Why Cicadas Make So Much Noise
The loud buzzing or whirring associated with cicadas is produced mainly by males calling to attract females. Sound-producing structures on the sides of the male’s abdomen vibrate, and the body helps amplify the call. Females do not produce the same calling song. The exact sound and volume vary among species and settings.
A dense chorus can be uncomfortable, especially outdoors near trees, but the noise is not a sign of aggression. Cicadas are not warning people away or coordinating an attack. The sound is part of their reproductive behavior. Indoors, keeping windows and doors closed or using ear protection when appropriate can make a noisy period easier to tolerate.
It is also normal for cicadas to call more noticeably at certain times or in particular weather conditions. A quiet patch does not necessarily mean they have disappeared, and a loud patch does not indicate that they are becoming more dangerous.
Do Cicadas Damage Trees or Gardens?
For people, cicadas are usually harmless; for some young trees, egg-laying can be a real concern. Female cicadas cut small slits into twigs and place eggs in them. On a small or newly planted tree, many such cuts can cause twig tips to die or break. This damage is called flagging. Established, healthy trees often tolerate it better, though the effects depend on the tree and the scale of activity.
Cicada nymphs feed underground on fluids from plant roots, but their presence does not usually mean a garden is being eaten in the way it might be by leaf-chewing insects. Adults also do not chew leaves. The most visible plant injury during an emergence often comes from egg-laying in branches rather than adults consuming foliage.
If you have young trees in an area expecting a heavy emergence, ask a local extension service, nursery professional, or other qualified plant-care resource which protective measures suit your tree and region. Recommendations can vary with the cicada type, tree size, and local conditions. Avoid applying pesticides simply because cicadas are present; they are not a threat to human safety, and treatment can affect other organisms.
Common Misconceptions About Cicadas
- “They are locusts.” Cicadas and locusts are different insects. Locusts are grasshoppers that can form destructive swarms; cicadas belong to a separate group and feed on plant fluids.
- “They bite when they land.” Their legs can cling, and the contact may feel scratchy, but cicadas do not bite people to feed.
- “A loud chorus means danger.” The calling is associated with reproduction, not an attempt to threaten people.
- “Every cicada emergence happens on the same schedule.” Life cycles differ among species and regions, so local activity is not a universal calendar.
One useful distinction is between a nuisance and a hazard. Noise, shed skins, and insects bumping into people can be inconvenient or unpleasant. They do not make cicadas dangerous attackers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a cicada hurt you if it flies into you?
A collision can startle you, but a cicada is not trying to attack. It may cling briefly with its feet. Move it away calmly rather than swatting or crushing it against your skin.
Do cicadas bite humans?
No. Their mouthparts are adapted for drawing fluids from plants, not biting people. They do not use them to feed on blood.
Are cicadas poisonous to touch?
Cicadas are not venomous, and touching one is not ordinarily a poisoning risk. Wash your hands after handling any outdoor insect as a basic hygiene measure.
Can cicadas hurt dogs or cats?
They do not sting pets, but animals may chase or eat them. Keep an eye on a pet that has eaten many insects, and ask a veterinarian for advice if it becomes unwell or you are concerned.
Why are cicadas so loud near my house?
Male cicadas call to attract females, and many calling at once can create a strong chorus. The sound does not mean they are aggressive or trying to enter the home.
The Bottom Line
Cicadas are noisy and sometimes startling, but they do not sting, do not bite people to feed, and are not known for spreading disease to humans. Let one crawl or fly away, use simple screens or route changes if the noise or activity bothers you, and pay attention to young trees if plant damage is a concern. For most people, a cicada emergence is an outdoor nuisance to understand—not a threat to fear.