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Billions of cicadas are popping up in the eastern United States. Scientists say Brood X is one of the biggest for these insects that only appear once every 17 years. Carolyn Kaster / AP hide caption
toggle caption Carolyn Kaster / AP
Billions of cicadas are popping up in the eastern United States. Scientists say Brood X is one of the biggest for these insects that only appear once every 17 years.
Carolyn Kaster / AP
A plane carrying dozens of reporters preparing to take off from Washington, DC to cover President Biden’s first overseas trip was delayed for several hours on Tuesday evening.
A swarm of cicadas was obviously trying to hitchhike in Europe with the press.
A horde of Brood X cicadas had filled the aircraft’s engines, causing mechanical problems that delayed take-off. Eventually, White House aides had to find another plane for reporters to travel overseas, according to the Associated Press.
White House press charter, flying from Dulles to Europe before President Biden, was delayed by several hours – due to mechanical issues caused by cicadas
Yes. Cicadas.
– Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) June 9, 2021
The spooky creatures, which arise from the ground every 17 years, are at their peak of mating season from the East Coast to the Midwest. During their few weeks above ground, they caused a lot of nuisance to pets and humans.
Aside from their cacophonous noise, the big-eyed bugs have been accused of causing digestive problems in pets and were responsible for a car crash in Cincinnati this week. An insect broke through an open window, hitting the Cincinnati driver in the face, causing him to crash into a utility pole, local police said. The driver sustained minor injuries, but totaled the car.
In Washington, DC, swarms of flying insects even appeared as a “blur,” usually reserved for light rain or snow, on weather radars this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
You may have noticed a lot of blurring (low reflectivity values) on our radar recently. The Hydrometeor classification algorithm shows that a large part is biological in nature. Our guess? It’s probably the #cigales. pic.twitter.com/i990mEBJnl
– NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) June 5, 2021
Until adult cicadas die after mating in late July, it may be safer to avoid cars and planes.
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