Scientists Wonder If Climate Change Is Making Cicadas Emerge Early

"Cicadas overwhelm tree branches across Maryland once every 17 years, like clockwork. But something — some suspect climate change — could be sounding their alarm clocks four years early.

In recent days, the red-eyed, nugget-shaped insects have been spotted crawling out from beneath trees from Northern Virginia to Bel Air in large — though not overwhelming — numbers.

The phenomenon is confusing entomologists who weren't expecting to see many of the screeching insects in the region until 2021."

Scott Dance reports for the Baltimore Sun May 16, 2017.

Source: Baltimore Sun, 05/19/2017