Parts of the eastern US are witnessing a phenomenon that they only get to see once in every 17 years -- swarms of 'Brood X' cicadas are coming out of their subterranean homes for the very first time in 17 years.
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These are known as periodical cicadas and they differ from annual cicadas -- most of their lives are lived underground, consuming sap from tree roots and then, after 17 years, mature cicada nymphs emerge from the ground.
This phenomenon is being witnessed in the US today as these cicadas have taken over several parts of the US in huge numbers. The insects climb up the surface most near to them, shed their exoskeleton and prop their wings open. A few days later, they begin mating, each screeching a high-pitched mating song (which can go as high as 100 decibels).
But they don¡¯t survive for long. The female lays the eggs and perishes moments later. Male cicadas die soon too. The eggs hatch after some time and fall to the ground. They later dig their way into the ground to chew on a nearby tree root and will only re-emerge 17 years later.
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People online have been sharing their experiences with the cicadas. Some have been really happy seeing them and even celebrating their surfacing after 17 years, tagging the phenomenon with hashtags #broodX or #theyrehere
Some tweeted humorously how they¡¯ve been waiting for this moment for so long.?
There are three cicada species that are going to be a part of this phenomenon -- Magicicada Septendecim, Magicicada Cassini and Magicicada Septendecula -- currently underway in the eastern parts of the United States.
As they surface, some of these cicadas will become prey to the animals nearby, but with the crazy population of these cicadas, eventually animals will stop consuming them -- similar to humans in an all-you-can-eat-buffet.
The surviving cicadas -- also ranging in billions -- these insect swarms then will start singing their very own mating song, from different trees to attract mates and copulate.? And experts say these mating songs of cicadas can reach as high as 100 decibels and sound similar to a chainsaw or a lawnmower.?
Cicadas don¡¯t survive after mating, the female puts their eggs in trees and perishes in a few moments. These eggs then hatch after some time and then fall to the ground. At this time these newborn cicadas dig into the Earth and go towards the trees to chew on the tree root for nearly 17 years until they are ready to re-emerge. The cicada population will be prominent in southern states like Georgia, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia among several others in the east coast of the nation.