Those loud, red-eyed insects will be popping up from the ground this spring in several states. Watch video
They're very noisy, and they're creepy looking too. And they're getting ready to emerge from the ground after 17 years in hiding.
Cicadas are making a big comeback this spring. But not here in New Jersey, experts say.
A large group of those annoying red-eyed insects known as Brood V will soon be invading southwestern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, parts of Virginia and West Virginia, as well as a small area of central and northern Long Island in New York, said Tedor Whitman, director of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum in the Short Hills section of Millburn.
"They're not going to be in New Jersey," Whitman said.
That's because the Garden State was swarmed by cicadas in the spring of 2013, and those pesky bugs only show up once every 13 to 17 years, depending on their brood type. So New Jersey has another 10 years before a major cicada invasion.
If you happen to hear a few cicadas buzzing in your backyard this year, don't be surprised, Whitman said. Those are annual cicadas, known as the North American Cicadidae, which have smaller populations and a shorter life cycle than the long-term broods. The annual cicadas are a bit larger and greener than the others, and they tend to emerge in July, according to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
The cicadas that swarmed New Jersey in May and June of 2013 were the species that lay eggs and bury their larvae underground, attaching themselves to tree roots, Whitman said. They remain there for another 16 years before emerging from the ground.
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"They come out in the larva stage, looking like aliens, and the adults grow wings," Whitman said.
The loud, obnoxious clattering sound the cicadas make are mating calls.
"They're trying to find mates before someone eats them," Whitman said, noting cicadas are a source of protein for lots of wildlife, including birds and foxes, as well as household pets like cats and dogs.
One good thing about cicadas: They don't bite or sting, and they're not interested in humans.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.