The so-called "Cicada Attack" is just around the corner, entomologists claim. Billions of cicadas are gearing up to attack the east coast of the United States after 17 years of staying hidden underground.
Around the size of a quarter, these flying bugs thrive on plant roots after they bury themselves in the soil and finally emerge from the ground to mate, sometimes in quantities that can cross billions.
Once these cicadas emerge from the ground with the intention of mating, the male cicadas make a buzzing sound, after which they reproduce, live for a month and then die. The offspring then burrow back into the ground, feed on tree roots, and complete a similar life cycle.
Of the different species of cicadas, Brood II, a periodic cicada that hatches out every 17 years, will be invading the U.S. east coast soon.
"These bugs will have dark-colored bodies, bright red eyes and wing veins. It'll be noisy. There's no getting around the noise," Craig Gibbs, an entomologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Queens Zoo, told CBS news.
Experts suggest that the buzzing sound emitted from more than a million cicadas can be compared to the sound of a New York City subway train. Though they may not cause any potential damage to humans, the residents of the east coast may need to get their raking equipment out, except that instead of leaves, they will be raking the dead bodies of cicadas.
A similar incident had created a huge "buzz" in the southern states back in 2011, and now it's time for the east coast to gear up.
Trimming tree branches that are close to your house is a good way to keep the cicadas from entering your home, entomologists suggest. Extra noise pollution for four to six weeks is also expected, considering that the "buzzing" sound may not exactly be sweet to the ears. Motorcyclists are advised to wear protective clothing, as the tough exoskeleton of the cicadas may hurt the skin.
Once this passes, Brood II won't be showing up until the year 2030, with a similar effect.
Read more: Cicadas Swarming Back In
