The Invasion of Brood X

I got ready for school like I was getting ready for battle. I pulled on my long pants, even though it was 85 degrees outside, and tucked them into my socks. I put on a baseball cap, even though it was not my style. I tied my sneakers as tightly as I could. 

It was time to come face-to-face with Brood X. 

What was Brood X? It was the name scientists had given to a group of big insects called cicadas (sih-KAY-duhz). How many bugs are in Brood X? Trillions. 

They come up out of the ground every 17 years. And for a month or so, they are everywhere. 

They cover the trees. They cling to the grass. They blanket the sidewalks. 

You open your mailbox and Whoa! There’s a cicada. You sit in the car and Oh! Cicadas are glaring at you through the window. You have an itch on your shoulder and Akk! It’s a cicada!

And the noise! Some people have said the humming sound they make is louder than a rock concert.

That morning when I was getting ready for school, they were everywhere. 

Scientists say the next time they will emerge is spring 2021.

That’s right now. 

Brood X is a group of big insects called cicadas (sih-KAY-duhz). How many bugs are in Brood X? Trillions.

They come up out of the ground every 17 years.

They cover the trees and cling to the grass. They cover the sidewalks.

The cicadas are noisy. Some people have said the humming sound they make is louder than a rock concert.

The next time we will see them is spring 2021. That’s right now.

I prepared for school like I was getting ready for battle. Even though it was 85 degrees outside, I pulled on my long pants and tucked them into my socks. It wasn’t my style, but I pulled on a baseball cap. I tied my sneakers as tightly as I could.

It was time to come face-to-face with Brood X.

Brood X is the name scientists have given to a group of large insects called cicadas (sih-KAYduhz). Brood X consists of trillions of cicadas.

They emerge from the ground every 17 years, and for a month or so, they are everywhere.

They cover the trees and cling to the grass. The sidewalks are blanketed with piles of cicadas.

You open your mailbox and Whoa! There’s a cicada. You sit in the car and Oh! Cicadas are glaring at you through the window. You have an itch on your shoulder and Akk! It’s a cicada!

And the noise! Some people have said the humming sound they make is louder than a rock concert.

That morning in 2004, when I was getting ready for school, they were everywhere.

Scientists say the next time they will emerge is spring 2021.

That’s right now.

The cicadas in Brood X stay underground for 17 years.

Scientists have different ideas about why the insects stay underground for so long. But one thing they agree on is what the cicadas are doing down there.

They are going through their life cycle. 

The cicadas in Brood X stay underground for 17 years.

They are going through their life cycle.

The cicadas in Brood X stay underground for 17 years.

Scientists have differing ideas about why the insects stay underground for so long. But they all agree that time spent underground is part of the cicada’s life cycle.

Young cicadas, called nymphs (nimfs), grow and change while they are underground. 

No one knows for sure how the nymphs know it’s time to come up after 17 years. But they just know.

Their six legs dig up through the soil. They break through the surface. They look around. For the first time in 17 years, they see daylight. 

Now the nymphs attach themselves to tree branches, blades of grass, fences, and walls. 

They shed their hard skins. These are called exoskeletons. The exoskeletons pile up on the grass, the streets, and the sidewalks.

The nymphs turn into adults. 

The males make a loud noise with their bellies. They are saying to the females, Here we are! (This is what causes that humming sound that is louder than a rock concert.)

Young cicadas, called nymphs (nimfs), grow and change while they are underground.

Then they dig out of the ground.

They attach themselves to trees and grass. They even attach to fences and walls.

They shed their hard skins, called exoskeletons.

The nymphs turn into adults.

The males make a loud noise. They are saying “hi” to the females.

Young cicadas, called nymphs, grow and change while they are underground.

Scientists are unclear how the nymphs (nimfs) know it’s time to come up after 17 years, but they just know.

Their six legs dig up through the soil, and the bugs break through to the surface. They look around, and for the first time in 17 years, they see daylight.

Now the nymphs attach themselves to tree branches, blades of grass, fences, and walls.

They shed their hard skins, called exoskeletons. The exoskeletons pile up on the grass, the streets, and the sidewalks.

The nymphs change into adults.

The males make a loud noise with their bellies, causing that humming sound that can be louder than a rock concert. They create the sound to attract females.

The females flick their wings when they hear the males.

Then the males and females mate. After that, the females lay eggs in tree branches. Nymphs hatch out of them. The nymphs fall to the ground and go into the soil. They have to be fast—they don’t want spiders, beetles, and ants to eat them!

Within a month, the adult cicadas up above the ground have all died. But the nymphs they created are alive and well under the ground. 

They’ll grow and change until they emerge, 17 years later. 

The males and females mate. The females lay eggs in tree branches.

Nymphs hatch out of them. The nymphs fall to the ground. They go into the soil.

The adult cicadas die. But the nymphs they created are alive under the ground.

They’ll grow and change. Then they will come out 17 years later.

The females flick their wings when they hear the males.

Next the males and females mate, and the females lay eggs in tree branches.

Nymphs hatch out of the eggs and fall to the ground. They burrow into the soil. They have to be fast! Predators like spiders, beetles, and ants are all around!

Within a month, the adult cicadas above the ground have all died. But the nymphs they created are alive and well under the ground, where they will continue to grow and change.