periodical cicada

noun

: seventeen-year locust

Examples of periodical cicada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With their black bodies, wings with bright orange veins, and red eyes, periodical cicadas are quite striking-looking. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025 While the noisy cicadas are harmless to people and don’t sting or bite, periodical cicadas can be concentrated and very numerous in some spots. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025 Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. — Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 After the last couple of years of periodical cicada activity, this year brings a pleasant break from periodical brood activity. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026 These periodical cicadas are primarily found in the eastern and Midwestern United States. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 16 Apr. 2025 This parasitic fungus lies dormant underground for 13 or 17 years, synchronized perfectly with its host — the periodical cicada. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 These mites, also known as Pyemotes herfsi, have been previously confirmed to attack and feed on periodical cicada egg nests and have been known to cause outbreaks of bite rashes on humans, according to the University of Maryland Extension. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of periodical cicada was in 1876

Rhymes for periodical cicada

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Cite this Entry

“Periodical cicada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodical%20cicada. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on periodical cicada

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about periodical cicada

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