Preparing underground for 17 years, cicadas are born and then quickly take refuge underneath the surface. The insects will feast on tree roots until they make their way aboveground once again after a long hiatus. It was just last year when we were reporting on the massive invasion of Brood V cicadas that were emerging all over Maryland. The short-lived spectacle is one we don’t frequently see throughout our lifetime, with the next mass of them to appear in 2021. But in the past week an undetermined group of cicadas has emerged, leaving scientists puzzled over their early arrival.

With handfuls of holes being reported in soil over the past week, it would appear that a group of cicadas due to emerge in 2021 have made an early appearance.
normanxang/Flickr
Missing the memo to be fashionably late, this particular group of cicadas last emerged in 2004.
anoldent/Flickr
Like strange little vampires of the insect world, the cicadas come up for sunlight after 17 years to reproduce and live a short life spanning anywhere from two to six weeks long.
Mark Levisay/Flickr

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Six weeks after eggs are laid, the babies will make their way underground to follow in the steps of the cicadas that came before them.
patchattack/Flickr
So why would the babies of Brood X surprise us four years too soon? Scientists have been left scratching their heads over this one.
Mark Levisay/Flickr
With temperatures rapidly climbing this week all over Maryland, our residents can expect to see (and hear) the noisy cicadas that will continue to come out of hiding.
Stephen Yeargin/Flickr
Leaving behind nothing but their exoskeletons, these insects may seem alarming in their mass numbers - they won't actually bite or sting humans or animals.
Jinx!/Flickr
Famously known for their unforgettable noisy behavior, the cicadas emerge by the masses as a survival technique. Those who happen to spot the latest group of cicadas are urged by scientists to report their findings on websites like Bugoftheweek.com and/or Magicicada.org to help better determine the early arrival.

Have you ever witnessed a cicada invasion while living in the Old Line State? If you have, we encourage you to share your pictures and experiences with us in the comments section!

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