Right on schedule, every 17 years, the little, bug-eyed monsters are coming. There are billions scheduled to be seen just on the east coast. And they are hungry for one thing.
"It's not like these hordes of cicadas suck blood or zombify people," says May Berenbaum, a University of Illinois entomologist, told MyFoxPhilly.com.
According to Berenbaum, the one thin they are seeking is sex. And, since they only come out every 17 years, they are more than ready.
"It's just an amazing accomplishment," Berenbaum said. "How can anyone not be impressed?"
ABC7, WJLA, said that the bugs will out-number humans 600 to 1 once they arrive.
A site called "Cicada Mania" targets where the bug-eyed critters will arrive and when. There a map shows large, colored dots where increased sightings of the insects are likely. Montgomery County makes the mark, with a population set to arrive called "Brood II" or that of the 2013 cycle, which generally strikes Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and beyond.
One Philly Mag writer warns park-goers that the bugs may affect summer plans, too.
"The cruelest part of cicada infestations is that they tend to accumulate in heavily wooded areas, with older trees, where the generations have accumulated underground," wrote Annie Monjar in Philly Mag. "So: Fairmount Park, Wissahickon Park, Rittenhouse Square—you know, all the places you’re looking forward to spending more time in now that it’s delightful summer."
So what are innocent Montgomery County residents to do to brace for impact? The University of Georgia article told Mother Earth News that the best thing to do is keep a tidy lawn.
"The best control is prevention," said the report. "Because cicada killers nest in open areas without vegetation, healthy turf won't be attacked. The best way to prevent having cicada killers around is to cultivate a lush healthy lawn without bare patches."