The 17-year cicadas are chirping up a storm in parts of New Jersey. Darian’s encounters with the harmless, but creepy, insects inspired this video.

For ten and seven years

They live underground
growing, waiting
Feeding on roots
sucking out the life substance

In the warmth of spring
they emerge

Growing from within
Splitting exoskeletons
They break out and blacken
Feel the swarm

They need to mate
before it’s too late
Restless males screech
Hear their call

In a month they will all be dead
Dead

They inject their eggs
inside narrow wood branches
The new spawn hatch
and go down into the ground

to return in ten and seven years
Ten and seven years