National Geographic
Remember that noisy bug that scared everyone it appeared near? Well it’s back. The cicada is back after more than a decade underground.
While many regard these bugs as creepy pests, the fascinating creatures were actually regarded as powerful symbols of rebirth by the Ancient Chinese.
The bug, that has a life span of 17 years and is only about 2.25 inches in size, is probably best known for its distinct clicking sound and loud call that can be heard up to a mile away.
Cicadas were last seen in 1998 when as many as 1.5 million could be found swarming a single acre. This year, the cicada’s are on a 13-year-cycle and will mostly be plaguing the southern half of the United States (The northern half of the United States will experience cicadas when the 17-year-cycle insects return), reported Babble.com.
Although cicadas have a terrifying appearance, they are harmless and their life above-ground only lasts up to a few months, so you won’t have to fear for long. And as you go about trying to avoid them, you may want to stop and take a look because it may just be your last time.
According to National Geographic, while there are more than 1,500 species of cicada, one of the best known is the periodical cicada that emerges from the ground every seventeen years. You’re probably wondering where these bugs go for so long, and the answer is underground. When young cicada nymphs hatch from their eggs, they dig themselves into the ground to suck the liquids of plant roots. This is where they spend several stages of their life. This process may take a number of years before they reach adulthood and surface.
