Yikes! Millions of Cicadas Set to Emerge After 17 Years Underground

AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

Oh great, 2021 is just getting better and better. In case you needed something else to worry about, well, this is it. Introducing the wild and gross cicadas. Yes, as if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the whole giant murder Hornets invading the US and the coronavirus pandemic, millions of 17-year cicadas are expected to emerge from the ground this year. As many as 1.5 million cicadas to be exact, and yes, people living in parts of North Carolina, Maryland, and West Virginia could witness this terrifying and unique phenomenon.

Videos by Rare

The good news here is that cicadas are harmless to humans. At most, they are quite noisy and become a nuisance. According to Erik Day, Virginia corporate extension entomologist in Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, “communities in farms with large numbers of cicadas emerging at once may have a substantial noise issue. Hopefully, and the annoyance at the disturbance is tempered by how infrequent and amazing this event is.”

Cicadas Overrun the Forest

Did you know that the cicada’s loud noise is made by males to attract females? The male cicadas contract ridged membranes on their abdomens to make their sound, which is then amplified by their almost-hollow abdomens. Each of the species has its own unique sound, and the chorus can reach up to 90 decibels which is as loud as a lawnmower.

Still, this is a huge no for me. I hate bugs, anything to do with bugs, so this to me is terrifying. So, although annual cicadas aren’t a danger to humans, they are a danger to Vines, orchids, and tres due to the egg-laying habits of their peanuts. Cicadas are large, cleared-winged insects that occur either periodically or annually. Several people are scared of them due to their size, the largest ones having a three-inch wingspan.

Hatching Cicadas

If enough of them emerge, the critters can wreak havoc outdoors as they fly across patios, parks, sidewalks, and decks. An adult Cicada usually lives two to four weeks, which isn’t very long after waiting 17 years underground. There are at least 15 separate cycles, also known as “cicada broods,” of periodic cicadas in the United States. It’s still a mystery as to why periodical cicadas only emerge every 13 or 17 years, but scientists do believe that it’s to avoid sinking up with Predator Cycles. So, there you have it, don’t you just love some good news?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on June 5, 2020.

Watch: Why You Should Stay Away from the Alabama Red Wasp

What do you think?

Remember That Time Johnny Carson Interviewed a Rooster?

float n grill

The Float ‘N’ Grill Is the Floating Grill Dads Have Been Dreaming Of