The invasion of billions of periodical cicadas is imminent in the United States after 17 years of hiding underground.

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 1/5/2026

For those unaware, cicadas have a rather peculiar life cycle: After mating, the female cicadas lay eggs in the natural grooves of large trees. When the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the ground and burrow deep into the soil for shelter. Notably, the duration of these larvae living underground is quite extended before they resurface, molt, and mate to continue their life cycle. Most cicada species live underground for 5 to 7 years, but there's a special case with Brood X, which remains buried for a whopping 17 years. Therefore, this year marks the emergence of billions of Brood X cicadas, as they crawl out of the ground, molt, and engage in mating rituals to prepare for the next generation in 17 years. This implies that the last natural sighting of this species was around 2003-2004.

Brood X is the largest cicada species, inhabiting about 15 states in the U.S., with Georgia possibly being the first place to encounter this species. In the next few weeks, a significant number of Brood X cicadas will 'awaken,' creating a massive 'symphony' in the upcoming summer. With its 17-year life cycle, this species has few natural predators because other species can't adapt to a mating cycle lasting 17 years to 'feast' on the Brood X cicadas. Typically, these cicadas begin molting in the evenings of May and June every year. An interesting point is that, despite living as larvae underground for nearly two decades, after molting into adult cicadas, they only live for about 3 to 4 weeks.

While the number of cicadas emerging may be exceptionally high, overall, this phenomenon is harmless. These cicadas neither bite nor cause damage to crops. On the contrary, they serve as a substantial food source for various creatures, and surprisingly, even contribute to human nutrition. The explanation for their precise emergence every 17 years lies in their biological clock. These insects possess a unique set of hormones that signal them when it's time to molt.

According to CBS

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