Biblical swarm invades multiple US states for the first time in 17 years... see if your hometown is at risk

Hundreds of billions of screaming insects are emerging from the ground throughout the US in a jarring sight that hasn't taken place in 17 years.

The long-awaited cicada invasion is here, and the bugs have already been spotted hatching in at least three states: Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Scientists are also expecting billions more to emerge at any moment in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

This startling awakening of cicadas is referred to as Brood XIV. The insects last appeared in 2008, and now the next window in their synchronized life cycle has come again.

The cicadas are hatching as the soil in these states reaches a temperature of about 64° Fahrenheit. The swarm will reach its peak in early June.

Heavily infested areas with plenty of tree-covered land will likely see more than a million bugs per acre.

While entomologists (scientists studying insects) say these creatures are harmless, their sheer numbers often frighten people who see these massive broods and hear their loud, shrieking mating calls.

For those who can't stand the sight of them, there's an app for that, and scientists are now giving everyone the ability to track (and avoid) Brood XIV's emergence. 

Brood XIV, which emerge every 17 years, have a distinct look compared to annual cicadas, having black and orange coloring and red eyes.

They're about one inch in length after hatching from their eggs and have a wingspan of roughly three inches when fully grown. 

The cicadas Americans see on a yearly basis throughout the country are typically green, brown, or gray with darker markings.

Brood XIV is one of a dozen cicada broods which sprout from the ground throughout the US every 17 years.

Each group is on its own schedule, with one brood emerging last year and another expected to hatch in 2029.

Brood XIV is one of the most widespread hatchings throughout the US, covering 13 states with billions of insects.

Only Brood X, which hatched in 2024, spreads across more states every 17 years, covering 16 states.

Dr Gene Kritsky, a noted entomologist at Mount St Joseph University in Ohio, helped to develop the Cicada Safari app to track emergences. It's available on both iPhones and Android devices.

'Periodical cicadas are more than just a natural marvel,' Kritsky said in a statement in February. 'They are bugs of history and their emergences inform us about land use and climate.'

To his point, these periodic cicada swarms have been written about for centuries, but not always positively.

In 1634, the governor of Plymouth Colony, William Bradford, compared the sight of a cicada swarm to flies that were as big as bumblebees.

He added that the brood 'soon made such a constant yelling noise' which was deafening to the American settlers.

Brood XIV males produce loud, synchronized mating calls that can reach up to 100 decibels - that's as loud as a leaf blower, a rock concert or nightclub, or a chainsaw.

'It's one of the most annoying sounds ever,' one person posted on X Monday while recording the mating calls.

For those who can't wait for Brood XIV to move on, they won't have to wait long. The life span of these cicadas is just two to four weeks.

That means the billions and billions of fresh insects emerging throughout the US this spring will actually be dead by July.

In that short window, Brood XIV cicadas will have mated, laid eggs, and died. After death, their bodies decompose and contribute nutrients to the soil.

Specifically, the cicada remains add nitrogen to the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer for forests, grasslands, and even compost piles if collected. This boosts plant growth and supports local forests.

The mass emergence of Brood XIV also provides local wildlife, including birds, squirrels, raccoons, reptiles, and even fish with an abundant food source.

This helps certain species boost their own populations, as the animals aren't struggling to find food or avoid predators - who are also snacking on the cicada swarm.

If pets consume several of the cicadas, they may experience temporary upset stomach or vomiting, but owners don't have to worry about their cat or dog eating an occasional cicada they find outside as eating them is considered harmless.

That's because the insects do not bite, sting, carry diseases, or secrete any toxins that would make animals sick after ingestion.

For humans, experts say the best thing to do until Brood XIV is gone is close the windows, use a white noise machine to drown out their mating calls, and cover any young trees with a fine mesh net.

This will keep the cicadas from laying their eggs in your new tree, which will then become the next home of Brood XIV in 2042.