Return of the Cicadas

Cicadas are among the most fascinating insects, and the 17-year periodical cicadas are the most interesting of all. Transported from the past, they bubble up from the ground in otherwise sedate suburban yards and parks. At this moment, billions of them are emerging along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States, from North Carolina to Connecticut. They can be found in and around Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York City. This is one of if the largest outbreaks of insects on Earth, with trillions due to appear over the next month.