The summer is a busy time for bugs inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, and more than 20 new species have just arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. One of thesenewACNHbugs, though it is actually not quite a bug at all, is the Cicada Shell.
This guide contains all of the details that players will need to catch this species for themselves and get the most out of them.
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Updated July 01, 2025 by Stephen LaGioia:It’s February, which means that, along with the bitter cold in much of the world, the large, noisy Cicadas have populatedAC: New Horizons— in the Southern Hemisphere anyway — leaving collectible shells in their wake. The winter season has also brought with it arobust 2.0 updateand the uniquely charmingDLC, Happy Home Paradise. These factors have contributed to the thriving virtual ecosystem that is New Horizons.
With the game’s continuing momentum and the unique nature of the insect shells in question, it seemed like a good time to refresh and flesh out this list. Keep in mind that this guide will mostly focus on how to catch a Cicada Shell, rather than theliveCicada breeds available in NH.
When to Find Cicada Shells
Animal Crossing: New Horizons’Cicada Shells appear in the Northern Hemisphere in the months of July and Augustand in theSouthern Hemisphere in January and February. During these months, Cicada Shells will spawnall day long.To catch one, players simply need to run around their islands while paying special attention to the trunks of trees; the only places where these bugs can be found.
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These shells can technically be found at any time of day. However, some players suggest that Cicada Shells can be found more easily between the hours of5 pm and 7 pm. Additionally, other fans state that hunting for Cicada Shells when it israiningis a good approach.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to say with a great deal of certainty that looking at these times will truly improve players' results, but fans that are really struggling to locate a Cicada Shell may still want to give it a try.
How to Catch a Cicada Shell
There is no big trick to catching Cicada Shells inACNHbeyond looking in the correct locations during the correct months. They are quite simply a fairly rare bug, and finding one will require some patience on the part of the player. While this may come as a bit of surprise, considering the fact thatNook’s Crannywill only offer10 Bells per Cicada Shell,it is the state of affairs nonetheless.
There is one nice thing about looking for a Cicada Shell inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, though, and that is that this bug will not fly away if a player gets too close to it. This means that fans can run around without concern while hunting for a Cicada Shell, and those players that put the time in are sure to get one of these specimens for theirmuseums inACNHeventually.
Summary Of The Best Way To Catch A Cicada Shell
In summary, these are the points players should keep in mind when it comes to catching a Cicada Shell:
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Cicada Shell Model
One way in which the Cicada Shell does hold some value is in the form of a neat, displayableCicada Shell Model.This is a miscellaneous furniture item inNew Horizonsthat can be displayed in one’s house or yard.
More On Cicadas
As it’s been touched on, Cicadas are a distinct entity inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonscompared to the shells, which are naturally lifeless and still. While getting Cicada Shells are fairly simple in the game because of this, nabbing the live insects themselves is a bit trickier.
This section will give some brief tips on how to best secure them, and highlight some more information on Cicadas.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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