Bugs invade Great Smoky Mountains, park says. ‘Sounds may take you by surprise’

Tens of thousands of large bugs have descended on Great Smoky Mountains National Park in western North Carolina, and tourists should brace themselves for the eerie sound, according to the National Park Service.

It’s cicadas, a species of winged insect known to generate a notoriously loud chorus of buzzing in the trees.

They don’t sting or bite, but their periodic tendency to emerge from the ground like zombies can be disconcerting, experts say.

“After 17 long years underground, brood XIV cicadas are making their grand entrance (and excited to meet you and our rangers!),” the park wrote in a May 21 Facebook post.

“Cicadas emerge when the soil hits 64°F, and the outside temperatures climb into the 70s and 80s. We’ve officially hit that sweet spot here in the Smokies (especially in Cades Cove)! While their sounds may take you by surprise, cicadas have a crucial role in our ecosystems, contributing to soil health and serving as food for other wildlife.”

Studies have revealed groups of cicadas can generate sounds at the 100-decibels level (like a jackhammer or motorcycle) which “not only damages hearing, but also causes changes to cognitive performance” in humans, according to report by Indiana University Bloomington.

Cicadas live as nymphs during their years underground, “drinking sap first from grass roots, then deciduous tree roots,” Lake County Forest Preserves reports.

“When ready for the final stage of their life cycle, nymphs emerge from the ground by the millions, shed their exoskeleton (protective shell) to become adults, and sing and reproduce in the treetops for 4–6 weeks,” the site reports.

Cades Cove is one of the most popular attractions in the park due to an easily reached 11-mile loop road. Its features include historic home sites, cemeteries, churches, riding stables and picnic areas.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers 522,427 acres of wilderness, “divided almost evenly between the states of North Carolina and Tennessee,” the park says. It is consistently the nation’s most visited national park, according to the National Park Service.

This story was originally published May 25, 2025 at 5:53 AM.