Invaders from underground are coming in cicada-geddon

Trillions of periodical red-eyed cicadas that have pumps in their heads and jet-like muscles in their rears will soon emerge. One brood of the insects crawls out from underground every 13 years and another brood appears every 17 years. For the first time in 221 years, both groups will show up this spring to sing a collective love song as loud as jet engines, After mating, they will die while their offspring head underground. The double emergence won’t happen again until 2245.

Class discussion: Who was the U.S. president in 1803 – the last time both broods showed up in the South and Midwest? Will you go out to look for the bugs when they arrive? Why or why not? Do you have any interest in rare natural events like the appearance of cicadas or a solar eclipse? Do insects frighten you? What about other wildlife? Would you rather explore outdoor wonders or stay inside and interact with an electronic device? Can you enjoy and learn from both activities?