Cicada Shells are back in Animal Crossing: New Horizons for players to add to their collection. From the very beginning, capturing bugs is a big part of the tropical island experience. The player can decide if they wish to sell these bugs to make a few extra Bells, put them out on display, or submit them for Blather's Museum. Although, certain bugs only spawn during specific times of the year. While it's possible to change the date of the game at any point by entering the Nintendo Switch's system settings, most Animal Crossing players wait until bugs naturally appear in the game. It's part of the appeal to wait around and see what new content is available in real-time.
In the case of the Cicada Shell, this is a bug that will only spawn during a small time window. Animal Crossing: New Horizons has different seasons for players to choose from. This decision will directly affect what creatures spawn throughout the year on the player's island. For the Cicada Shell, both northern and southern hemispheres' spawn dates are very far from one another. Fortunately, this bug species is common for when it does decide to appear.
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Cicada Shell will only spawn in the northern hemisphere from July to August. Southern hemisphere players will have this bug appear from January to February. On the bright side, they have the chance to spawn all throughout the day. They will only appear resting on the sides of trees. If the player runs too fast or gets too close without catching it, it has the chance to run away. Fortunately, there are easier ways to get the Cicada Shell to spawn.
Finding A Cicada Shell in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
For starters, players should visit another island using their Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nook Miles. After players unlock access to Nook Island Tours, they'll be able to reach smaller islands with tons of valuable resources. It's a common way to unlock new villagers to the island. Since the islands are so small, bugs are more likely to spawn next to one another. There's no need to run around the entire island like in the mainland in order to find a Cicada Shell.
It's a common bug that will sell at Nook's Cranny for 10 Bells and since this bug only spawns during certain times of the year, players should focus on capturing multiple. Crafting a golden net will make it easier to capture more bugs around the island. It's a high-tier DIY recipe that is incredibly helpful in crafting more durable tools. Adding it to Blather's collection also makes the museum exhibits a bit more robust.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now on Nintendo Switch.