The last time these thrumming, red-eyed bugs burrowed out of the ground across America’s suburbs and woodlands was the early summer of 2008.
Global financial jitters were mounting, iPhones were a luxury item, and George W Bush was still president.
Now, reports from the citizen-science app Cicada Safari show the first insects of Brood XIV, which emerges every 17 years, surfacing in the US South. As ground temperatures warm across the North, millions more are expected to follow.
Cicadas belong to the insect order Hemiptera, which includes stink bugs, bed bugs, and aphids.
But they are often mistaken for locusts, a confusion that dates back to early English settlers who likened the mass emergences to Biblical plagues. Brood XIV itself was first documented in 1634.
There are roughly 3,500 species of cicadas globally, many still unnamed.
But periodical cicadas which emerge en masse after 13 or 17 years are unique to the eastern United States, with two additional unrelated species found in northeastern India and Fiji, says Chris Simon, a leading cicada expert at the University of Connecticut.
“Everybody’s fascinated by them, because you see nothing for 13 or 17 years, and then all of a sudden, your house and car are covered in these insects,” Simon told AFP.
“This is a marvelous phenomenon that you can take your kids to see and marvel at, watch them come out of their shells and wonder about how they evolved,” she added, urging the public to appreciate, not fear them.
“The world wouldn’t survive without insects.”
Because their emergence years are staggered, different periodical cicada broods appear in different years. In 2024, a rare “double whammy” occurred when the 13-year Brood XIX overlapped with the 17-year Brood XIII.
That’s not the case in 2025, but excitement remains high around these mysterious critters, which continue to intrigue scientists — especially given that the evolutionary logic behind their prime-numbered life cycles remains unresolved.
Cicadas are often thought of as “creatures of history,” conjuring memories of past life chapters , what you were doing when this brood last emerged.
They spend nearly their entire lives underground, passing through life stages called instars, before tunneling to the surface for a brief few weeks to molt, mate, and die — while their newly hatched offspring drop from trees and burrow into the soil, beginning the cycle anew.
Males produce their deafening mating calls using tymbals, sound-producing membranes on either side of their abdomens, creating a chorus that’s been likened to sirens or power tools.
They don’t bite or sting, and they don’t eat solid food in their adult form, though they drink water.
Instead, their defense is overwhelming abundance swarming in such numbers that they satiate predators like birds, raccoons, foxes, and turtles, playing a crucial role in the ecosystem.
But their survival strategy is increasingly challenged by human-caused changes.
Widespread deforestation and urbanization have destroyed habitat. And now, climate change is triggering more frequent occurrences of “stragglers” cicadas that emerge four years too early or too late, often in numbers too small to survive, which could threaten long term population numbers.
Simon added that in areas like the capital Washington, these asynchronous emergences are forming “a patchy mosaic” of overlapping broods.
Then there’s the political climate. Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has fired scientists en masse and frozen funding for new research.
Simon submitted a grant proposal last August to the National dcience foundation for a major genetic study into cicadas’ internal clocks, biological mechanisms that somehow track the passage of years, unlike humans’ 24-hour circadian cycles.
“Nobody knows what’s happening,” she said, decrying the current attacks on science.

An international team of solar physicists led by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have traced giant tides of plasma beneath the Sun’s surface at a region called near-surface shear layer (NSSL).

According to a study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, the plasma’s currents shift with the Sun’s magnetic heartbeat and could have a far-reaching influence on space weather and earth.

“The near-surface shear layer (NSSL) extending to about 35,000 km in depth is a critical region beneath the Sun’s surface. It is marked by distinct rotational behaviours that vary with depth and changes, over space and time, that relate to active region magnetic fields and the solar cycle,” said the Department of Science and Technology.

It added that astronomers have probed the dynamic inner weather of the Sun — plasma currents just beneath its surface at the NSSL, that pulse in step with its 11-year sunspot cycle.

Apart from IIA, researchers from Stanford University (USA), and the National Solar Observatory (NSO, USA) have traced how these hidden flows shift over time, potentially reshaping our understanding of solar dynamics in general and how the Sun’s interior connects to its outer magnetic behaviour in particular.

Employing helioseismology — an advanced technique that tracks sound waves as they travel through the Sun — the team observed changes in the movement of solar material using more than a decade of data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (SDO/HMI) and the ground-based Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) of National Solar Observatory (NSO), USA.

Fascinating patterns

The analysis led by Professor S.P. Rajaguru and PhD student Anisha Sen from IIA revealed fascinating patterns — surface plasma flows converge toward active sunspot latitudes, but reverse direction midway through the NSSL, flowing outward to form circulation cells.

“These flows are strongly influenced by the Sun’s rotation and the Coriolis force — the same force responsible for the spin of hurricanes on earth,” the department said.

“To validate our findings, we zoomed in on a massive sunspot region using 3D velocity maps. The localised flow patterns we observed matched the global trends — confirming both surface inflows and deeper outflows,” said lead author Anisha Sen.

These findings give us a better understanding of how the Sun’s magnetic activity is linked to its internal flows and hint that we might still be missing something lurking in deeper layers that truly drives its global dynamics.

Don’t miss the chance to upgrade your cleaning game while saving big. Happy shopping – it’s all happening right now during the Amazon Sale (May 2025)!

Bank offers during Amazon Great Summer Sale 2025:

1) No Cost EMI: Avail No Cost EMI on select cards for orders above ₹3000.

2) Get 5% back with Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card for Prime members. 3% back for others. Not applicable on EMI orders and Amazon business transactions.

3) Prime Savings 10% Instant Discount up to INR 1250 on HDFC Bank Credit Card Non-EMI Trxn. Min purchase value INR 3000. For Prime customers only.

The Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2 Robot Vacuum Cleaner makes cleaning your home easier than ever. It empties dust on its own and stores it for up to 90 days. With strong 6000 Pa suction, it picks up dirt, pet hair, and dust from carpets and hard floors. Smart LiDAR navigation helps it clean every corner. With a 285-minute battery life, it’s a smart and helpful cleaning buddy for any home. This product is available during Amazon Summer Sale 2025 at a discount of 87% off.

The Dreame L10 Prime Robot Vacuum Cleaner is a smart cleaning helper for your home. It has a 7mm mop lift and self-cleaning mop, so your floors stay fresh with less effort. With 4000 Pa suction and 3D mapping, it cleans thoroughly and avoids obstacles. The LDS navigation guides it smoothly around your home. You can control it easily through WiFi, app, or Alexa, making everyday cleaning simple and stress-free. This product can be yours at a discount of 86% during Amazon Great Summer Sale 2025.

The ILIFE A20 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner makes cleaning simple and smart. With 6500 Pa strong suction, it easily picks up pet hair, dust, and dirt. It also mops, giving your floors a fresh finish. Advanced LiDAR navigation ensures it cleans every corner. Perfect for homes up to 4500 sq ft, it runs on a powerful 5200mAh battery. Control it easily using WiFi, app, Alexa, or Google Home—ideal for pet-friendly households.

The MILAGROW iMap 15 AI Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner offers powerful 8200 Pa suction, making it perfect for picking up dust, pet hair, and debris. With a tangle-resistant brush, it easily handles carpets and hard floors. Enjoy up to 300 minutes of cleaning with its 5200mAh EV-grade battery. You can control it through an app, remote, or voice commands for effortless operation. It’s a smart, reliable solution for all your cleaning needs. Pick this robot vacuum cleaner at an attractive discount of 71% during Amazon Summer Sale 2025 and say bye-bye to dirt and grim forever.

The ILIFE T10s Robotic Vacuum & Mop makes home cleaning simple and hands-free. With 4000 Pa strong suction, it handles pet hair and dust with ease. Its 60-day self-empty feature means less work for you. Smart LiDAR navigation ensures accurate cleaning across 3500 sq ft. Powered by a 3200mAh battery, it runs smoothly and efficiently. You can control it easily via Wi-Fi, app, or voice commands for added convenience.

​The Dreame L10s Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner is a premium cleaning solution designed for effortless home maintenance. With its powerful 5300Pa suction, it efficiently captures dust, debris, and pet hair from various floor types. The self-cleaning base station automatically empties dust and washes mops, providing up to 60 days of hands-free operation. Advanced AI and 3D navigation ensure precise cleaning paths, while smart controls via Wi-Fi, app, and Alexa offer convenient operation. This robot vacuum cleaner is a neat deal at 59% off during Amazon Sale 2025. Go for it.

The AGARO Alpha Robot Vacuum Cleaner is a smart and efficient cleaning companion for your home. With its 3-in-1 functionality—sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping—it ensures thorough cleaning across various floor types. Equipped with advanced SLAM LiDAR navigation, it maps your home accurately for efficient route planning. The powerful brushless motor delivers up to 3200Pa suction, adjustable through four modes to suit different cleaning needs. Smart app and voice controls offer convenient operation, making home cleaning effortless. Agaro is a brand you can trust and when this robot vacuum cleaner is available at a discount of 57% during the Amazon Sale May 2025.

​The ILIFE V3s Max Robotic Vacuum & Mop is a smart cleaning companion designed for Indian homes. With 2000Pa suction power, it effectively captures dust, debris, and pet hair from various floor types. Its 2-in-1 functionality allows simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, enhancing cleaning efficiency. Equipped with a 1L dust bag and a washable 600ml dustbin, it offers up to 40 days of dust storage. Smart gyroptic navigation ensures systematic cleaning, while Wi-Fi connectivity and voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant provide convenient operation.

​The Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum & Mop is a top-tier cleaning solution designed for modern homes. With an impressive 12,000Pa suction power, it effortlessly removes dirt and pet hair from various floor types. Its dual RGB cameras and AI chips enable real-time obstacle detection, ensuring precise navigation around furniture and other objects. The adaptive hot-water mop washing system adjusts water temperature based on dirt levels, providing hygienic cleaning. Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Siri, it offers seamless voice control for added convenience.​ At 40% off, this robot vacuum cleaner is more than a good deal. Opt for it during this Amazon Great Summer Sale 2025.

The ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 PRO is a smart robotic vacuum and mop made for busy homes. With 8000Pa suction and ZeroTangle™ tech, it easily lifts dust and pet hair without clogging. Its OZMO Pro 2.0 mop handles tough stains, and TrueMapping ensures it navigates like a pro. Plus, the 5200mAh battery offers a solid 300-minute runtime—perfect for larger spaces. Check out this robot vacuum cleaner during Amazon Sale 2025. Don’t miss out on attractive discount.  

Similar articles for you

Amazon Summer Sale 2025 is LIVE for Prime members: Big price drop on air coolers from brands like Bajaj, Orient and more

Amazon Great Summer Sale is here, bringing you massive discounts on the best TV: Expect up to 55% off from top brands

Amazon Great Summer Sale Countdown begins! Pre deals revealed on top wearables like smartwatches, earbuds and headphones

Amazon Summer Sale starts at 12 am for Prime Members with pre deals on laptops up to 72% off on HP, Dell, Apple and more

Best vacuum cleaners under ₹5000: Top 10 picks from biggest brands to make cleaning easy and affordable

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.