You may have heard that the periodical cicadas (Brood VIII) will emerge in the northern part of Jefferson County this year. The key factor that drives emergence is soil temperature, which has to reach above 65 F. We have hit 65 F, so we should be seeing them in the next few days.

Since Jefferson County is on the southern border of the emergence, we will be the first to see cicadas in Ohio. If you see periodical cicadas, please report it to the Jefferson Extension office at 740-264-2212 (especially if you live in the northern part of the county) to help us track Brood VIII's emergence. The factsheet on cicadas can be found at https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ENT-58.