Cicadas return after 13 years.
If you live in the South of the USA, you already know the cicadas are back. The red-eyed, noisy insects found in southern states emerge only once every 13 years, and the last time they caused their ruckus was in 1998. That means it's time for the 120-decibel chirping again.
But don't worry, aside from the annoying noise, cicadas are harmless to humans. They don't sting or bite, although if one sits on you for long enough it might think you're a tree and stick you with a feeding probe. (Therefore, if a cicada lands on you, don't let it get too comfortable.)
Cicadas, often mistakenly called locusts, can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are many species of the insect, the most famous of which in North America is the periodical cicada. In the Southern part of the USA, they emerge only once every 13 years. In the Northern part, the cicadas stay dormant underground for 17 years.
