Cicada swarm: Watch brood X cicadas emerge after 17 years underground

Trillions of cicadas are starting to emerge in 15 US states after 17 years underground. Gene Kritsky has been studying them for decades and has created a citizen science app, Cicada Safari, to help track the brood.

More than 3000 cicada species have been described worldwide. Most have a yearly life cycle, but seven species in the US belonging to the Magicicada genus remain underground as nymphs for 13 or 17 years before emerging, a process called periodical brooding. The only other two species of cicada to do this are found in Fiji and India.

[Johnnygrafx]

This guy is the Steve Irwin of insects and I'm here for it

[patrickcoin]

Great video. Note that at 2:15, one of the cicadas is infected with the Massospora fungus, the famous ""flying salt shaker of death"".

[treefarm]

I experienced these 'locusts' as a 7 year old in 1953, i.e. 4 X 17 years ago, in Pennsylvania. Nice to know, now, that they are actually cicadas, since I now live in North Queensland, where we have plenty of loud cicadas. Thanks.

[krishnasa]

Fascinating! Is there a 17-year countdown timer within these cicadas and from where do they get that timing accuracy? how do they sync up altogether? Thank you very much

[puffthemagicgarden]

I watched them emerge in my backyard with golden color, then came out of the shell, turn into black, mating and got eaten by birds and groundhogs! I have a backyard documentary of broodX cicadas on my channel. First time seen this amazing natural event!

[canon]

What about Cicada from Northeast part of India? Here Cicada season has reached.