MACON, Ga. — The "17-year cicada" sounds like an old legend or myth, but if you've ever heard them before, you know they are very real and unforgettable.
In one of the mysteries of the world, millions of Brood X cicadas are expected to emerge from underground where they've spent their life since 2004.
At a glance, Brood X may sound scary, but it isn't a crazy name like Murder Hornet. Simply put, a brood is group of cicadas and X is the Roman numeral 10, so Brood X cicadas are the tenth group of cicadas that biologists track.
After cicadas hatch, they go into their "nymph" stage. In this stage, they burrow underground. The creatures feed off of the root systems of plant roots, sometimes one to two feet below ground. Their development process is slow. After 17 years, they surface to look for mates.
Brood X Cicadas are LOUD. In my opinion, it sounds like what I imagine an alien abduction would sound like and it is distinct. The sound you hear serves the Brood X cicada two purposes: it helps males attract mates, and helps fend off predators such as birds.
Most of them are expected to be in north Georgia. Once the summer heat sets in, drive north and you'll know once you hear them.
Cicadas are not harmful to humans at all. For us, they provide a unique opportunity to see, hear, and appreciate what the world has to offer.
So to recap:
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