Crossword clue
“Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years”
This clue appeared as 21-Down in the NYT Crossword on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The answer has 6 letters.
Answer · 6 lettersFirst appearance
CICADALetters6
Starts withC
Ends withA
Vowels3
Where this clue has appeared
About this clue
The clue “Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years” ran in the NYT Crossword on December 23, 2025 as 21-Down. Its answer is a 6-letter word that starts with C and ends with A, with 3 vowels, which often points to a phrase, a name or a borrowed word.
See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for December 23, 2025, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.
More clues from this puzzle
1ALongtime CBS procedural with multiple spinoffs4 letters5AHighly capable5 letters10ACtrl+S command4 letters14AAlternative to check or credit card4 letters15ASecondary subject for a college student5 letters16AShort video4 letters17AAppropriately named bus driver on "The Simpsons"4 letters18AAlternative to épée or foil, in British English5 letters
FAQ
What is the answer to the “Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years” clue?+
The answer is CICADA (6 letters), from the NYT Crossword of December 23, 2025.
Where has this clue appeared?+
We have seen it 1 time in the NYT Crossword.
How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+
Open the full list of answers for December 23, 2025, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.