Cicadas Are Among Us and They're Singing Up a Storm

If you've ever lived in an area where cicadas have hatched in large quantities, then you know what an experience it can be. Cicadas are harmless, kind of cute, big bugs with usually red, googly eyes who just live to breed during their short lives. Every so often, a large quantity will hatch up out of the ground, and invade a region while they swarm around, to look for potential mates.

A cicada invasion is incredibly loud if you're in the middle of it. There is a pulsing roar of collective cicada chirping, that is ongoing and can actually hurt your ears if exposed to it for too long. The sound is so intense, that you have to go around closing all the windows to keep the noise out.

Also, cicadas fly and attach themselves to whatever they can, everywhere, including you if you're in their line of vision. If you have houseplants outdoors, for example, they will cover them so it's best to bring in delicate plants that could be damaged by them. Cicadas don't eat plants, aren't poisonous and are nothing more than loud, climbing bugs. Don't be surprised if your dog or cat finds them strangely delicious. A little crunchy protein snack never hurt them any. My cat used to bring in cicadas (the ones he didn't eat) from off the balcony and drop them at my feet. Lucky me. To him, they were moving play-toys and cat treats at the same time. He was proud to present me with his trophy, a buzzing, and very much still-alive bug, whom I'd then escort back outside. Watch that your pets don't bring in more of them when you aren't looking, I found a cicada stash in the corner behind my couch a few days after the invasion subsided as my cat looked on, trying to look innocent.