Why Do Cicadas Invade In Such Crazy Numbers?
The explanation for the infestation. Magicicada is a plague unlike any other, here in the northeast. And it is a plague with a reason: emerging in absurd, over-the-top, biblical numbers is the cicada's bizarre--but effective--means of survival. The Magicicada, the genus of cicada that's about to blanket the northeast United States, is a very odd creature. It is, in the animal kingdom, a very tasty treat, which is unfortunate for the cicada, but not so odd. What's odd is that it has literally no protection against getting eaten: it has a mouth but it does not bite, nor does it sting nor pierce nor scratch. It is colored a shiny black, with luminous yellow/orange wings and absurdly bright crimson eyes, which do not give it any camouflage whatsoever. Once molted into its adult form, it does not eat or move very much. It does, however, draw attention to itself by making a...