They will crawl out from underground, where they have been hiding in the darkness for almost two decades.They will invade the midwestern United States, including the Chicago metropolitan area.They will fill forests and the skies as they swarm.Thousands of them will cry out together day and night.They are Brood XIII. Should you be frightened? Should you try to prepare yourself?


Bush cicada
Joel Sartore/Getty Images
Bush cicada at the University of Nebraska State Museum.
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Insects Abound

Not really. The only preparation you may need to greet the cicadas of Brood XIII is a pair of earplugs, because the worst they can do is kee­p you up at night.

­ Cicadas are flying, plant-feeding insects that are most famous for their powerful singing voices and rare appearances. In May 2007, the cicadas are coming to perform. In this article, we'll learn more about these mysterious insects.

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