The US has pretty much got War, Famine, and Death stabled as far as the four horsemen go, so I was wondering when Pestilence was going to turn up. But, with the emergence of hundreds of billions of cicadas from the ground across the US, we can grab that apocalyptic pony a feed bag too.
The upcoming plague is known as Brood XIV and happens once every 17 years. As the ground reaches 64° Fahrenheit, the brood hatches and crawls from the ground. The cicada swarms have already been spotted in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. However, many more states are expected to be utterly overwhelmed by the cicadas.
Within days, billions of cicadas will be crawling from the ground in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Nowhere is safe from these screaming, palm-sized bugs.
Thankfully, cicadas are harmless. But the sheer number of bugs will be shocking, and their noise is deafening. These particular males can reach volumes of 100 decibels.
Cicada Swarm Brood XIV Is Unique
These particular cicada swarms are different from many others in both appearance and sound. The Brood XIV family has a black and orange coloring and red eyes. They can grow up to a three-inch wingspan, which is bigger than some small birds.
This particular hatching of cicadas is one of the most widespread in the US, covering around 16 states. As they hatch and migrate, they will plague the country for their lifespan. However, if you’re planning on staying out of the way, there’s an app for that.
The Cicada Safari App shows exactly where the swarm of cicadas is moving at the present time. It specifically tracks where Brood XIV is at present. Although I think just opening a window will be enough. The bugs are so loud you should be able to hear them miles away.
The lifetime of the swarm of cicadas is only around two weeks. In this time they are born, mate, and die. They will also provide a huge amount of nitrogen to the soil, and an absolute feast for all the animals that like to dine on the massive, screaming pests.
Keep your windows closed, folks, pestilence is upon us.