Washington DC braces itself for insect plague
Travellers who are afraid of creepy-crawlies are best advised to avoid the eastern seaboard of the United States over the next few weeks, because the entire region is about to be hit by an enormous plague of flying insects.
A trillion periodical cicadas are ready to hatch and cause of plague “of biblical proportions”, according to many media reports, with thousands of residents ready to flee to areas that will not be affected by the swarm.
The periodical cicada spends an amazing 17 years maturing underground before appearing above ground – and the history of the swarm due to affect the area, known as Brood X, has been recorded as far back as the year 1715.
The Daily Mail reports that, as a swarm, cicadas can drown out “traffic, aircraft noise and the loudest music” – and while the insects cannot harm humans or crops, “hundreds of barbecues and outdoor parties will be ruined this summer as the swarm descends”.
The official advice, the newspaper reports, is to “put up with the insects and try to tolerate their music – and if you can’t, head west”.
The adult cicadas will be dead by the first week of July, the Daily Mail reports – and, once the bodies of a trillion of insects have rotted away, we will hear nothing more of Brood X until the year 2021.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
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