Along with the rising temperatures, blooming trees and growing grass, something else is supposed to sprout from the earth this springâa swarm of cicada nymphs.
After 17 years underground feeding on roots, the insects of Brood X are ready to come out in droves to shed some skin, sing, have sex and dieâthough not necessarily in that order.
Any day now, the white nymphs will wriggle free from the soil and race for survival in 15 states, including Virginia and some parts of the Fredericksburg area.
Billions of cicadas will soon appear in the eastern US, the biggest emergence event since 2004. CNN's Tom Foreman reports.