Brood X cicadas: Billions have emerged across America
- Published
It's creepy crawly time! Meet the Brood X cicada. Billions of them have been emerging this week across parts of America after... wait for it...17 years of hibernating underground!!
The spectacular creatures then shed their old skins, or husks. If you look carefully at this tree in the American capital of Washington D.C. you'll spot cicada husks stuck to it.
But if you want to get close here's a cicada right in the middle of emerging from its old skin - woah!
This cicada is drying its wings on a flower after it's fully emerged. Its mission now is to mate so the next generation of cicadas can be born.
Humans can eat cicadas and the insects are a good source of protein. This chef is collecting them to cook and teach people about their benefits. But don't try this yourself - he's a professional and knows what can be eaten and how!
In fact here are loads of them ready to be served up!
Here's a cicada hanging out in Maryland - one of the states in America where these insects can be found at the moment. But be glad that you're looking at them online as they make a huge noise - scientists have measured it and think it's a similar level to a motorcycle!
Scientists are also enjoying the insects coming out of hibernation and are studying them to find out more about the soil they live in and also how climate change may be allowing them to grow quicker.
- Published17 May 2021
