Photo: Stone RF
Just when we thought the cicada invasion was over, we have one more phase before they actually disappear for another 17 years.
When Brood X literally took over the region a few weeks ago, the females laid eggs in the trees and guess what? Those eggs will soon be hatching between July an August.
"Across their geographic range, trillions will fall out of the trees. They will look like a small ant or termite. When they emerge from the trees many will be eaten by other organisms. Each one of the female cicadas can lay 500-plus eggs considering the number of them that have emerged. In the DC area alone, billions of juvenile cicadas will likely hatch this month into next month," Entomologist Samuel Ramsey, Ph.D shared with WJLA.
As disturbing as the thought of "billions of juvenile cicadas" is, we thankfully don't have much to to worry about in "day-to-day life" because these nymphs are small and will just bury themselves underground until it's time to reemerge.
"To the unaided eye, these insects are so difficult to see that they'll likely go unnoticed by most people. These baby cicadas don't have wings or the ability to make noise, they are nondescript blobs that will stay underground until 2038," he said.
Read more here.