Millions of cicadas are expected to emerge in the foothills of North Carolina over the next month. The insects are digging out of the ground for the first time in seventeen years.
Singing cicadas can already be heard in some areas of North Carolina, including Burke, Caldwell, and Wilkes Counties. Experts say Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell and Polk Counties are also expected to see the insects.
There are several species of periodical cicadas. The one that is emerging in the foothills is Brood VI, which is found in the eastern part of the country. They emerge when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees or above.
They'll mate, reproduce and the newly hatched nymphs from the female's eggs will go back in the ground for another 17 years.
The insects have red eyes and long black bodies. Experts say they don't sting or bite. And they're little harm to mature plants. But Amanda Taylor, with North Carolina Cooperative Extension says younger, smaller trees need some protection.
“We do recommend covering the trees with mesh netting or cheesecloth,” says Taylor. “Because what happens is the females will lay eggs in the small branches and those branches can sometimes die because they essentially end up girdling those branches.”
Taylor says they wouldn't likely kill the tree, but they can cause it some damage.
She says Brood VI cicadas are also expected to emerge in Georgia and South Carolina.
In some parts of the world, cicadas are seen as good luck. But some people find them a nuisance because of the high pitch noise they make.
Taylor encourages people to be patient and avoid using pesticides. She says this amazing cycle of Mother Nature won't last long, since they're only around for about three to four weeks after they emerge.
*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news