>>> THE PRESS CORPS TRAVELING
WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS GROUNDED ON TUESDAY NIGHT BY A
SWARM OF CICADAS. THEY WERE VISITING THE EASTERN
UNITED STATES AFTER 17 YEARS UNDERGROUND.
THE NOISY BUGS ARE IRRITATING TO MANY PEOPLE.
BUT THEY HAVE BECOME AN AMERICAN FASCINATION OVER THE LAST FEW
WEEKS SINCE JOINING US ABOVE GROUND.
CATIE BECK HAS MORE IN OUR SUNDAY FOCUS.
>> Reporter: THIS WEEK, AN
UNINVITED GUEST DROPPED IN ON PRESIDENT BIDEN.
THE HIGH PROFILE SWAT SEEN AROUND THE WORLD FURTHER PROOF
THAT IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDWEST OR MID-ATLANTIC STATES, CICADAS
ARE INESCAPABLE. SOME ENCOUNTERS TOO CLOSE FOR
COMFORT. >> OH, MY GOD.
[ BLEEP ]. >> Reporter: THE SWARM OF
PREHISTORIC LOOKING BUGS THAT SHOW UP EVERY 17 YEARS COULD BE
MORE OF A CREEPY NUISANCE THAN HARMFUL.
THEY DON'T BITE OR STING. ALSO DON'T FLY QUIETLY UNDER THE
RADAR. >> THERE WERE SO MANY CICADAS IN
THE AIR THAT THEY WERE PICKED UP ON RADAR.
>> Reporter: YOU MAY HEAR THEM BEFORE YOU SEE THEM.
THE CHIRPING CONCERT FROM MALE CICADAS IS A MATING CALL.
REGISTERS BETWEEN 80 AND 100 DECIBELS, THE SAME AS A JET
TAKING OFF OR A GARBAGE TRUCK DOING COLLECTION.
>> THEY ARE HORRIBLE. >> Reporter: ONE FLEW INTO THIS
CAR WINDOW IN CINCINNATI CAUSING A DRIVER TO HIT A POLE.
A WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS PLANE TO EUROPE GROUNDED AFTER A MASS
OF CICADAS FLEW INTO THE ENGINE. >> THEY NEED A PR TEAM.
>> Reporter: THIS MAN SAYS CICADAS ARE LIKE US AFTER THE
PANDEMIC, EMERGING FROM THEIR HOMES AFTER BEING IN ISOLATION.
>> WE HAVE BEEN IN ISOLATION FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE 17 YEARS.
THEY HAVE BEEN IN ISOLATION FOR 17 YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO UPON LEAVING?
I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY. THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
THIS IS SPRING BREAK RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THERE'S A
REASON THE SPRING BREAK DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
>> IF YOU MERGE EVERY YEAR, THINGS CAN FIGURE THAT OUT.
EVERY 17, BYE. IF ANY CREATURE DECIDED IT
WANTED TO SYNC UP TO THAT, IT WOULD HAVE TO EAT ONCE EVERY 17
YEARS. THAT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY HAVE THIS PERFECT SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE THERE'S NO PREDATOR
IN THE WORLD THAT IS SPECIALIZED IN COMING AFTER THEM.
>> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY THERE ARE TRILLIONS OF THESE.
>> TRILLIONS OF THEM. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THE CICADAS
PROVIDE A SHOW TO BEHOLD. SAVOR THE TIME.
>> THEY EMERGE IN SUCH HUGE NUMBERS.
THEY ARE NOT THE TYPE TO BE INCONSPICUOUS.
THEY WILL BE NOTICED. >> Reporter: THEY MAKE THEIR
PRESENCE KNOWN. SOME PEOPLE, LIKE HALLIE JACKSON
ARE TAKING THAT ADVICE LITERALLY, TESTING OUT A MENU
OFFERING CICADA SCAMPI. FOR THOSE FEELING JUST BUGGED BY
THE INSECTS, NOT TO WORRY. THE CICADAS' VISIT IS WRAPPING
UP. BY LATE JUNE INTO JULY, THE
ADULTS WILL DIE OFF. >> THIS IS A FREE CONCERT THAT
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN FOR 17 YEARS.
JUST LISTEN TO THE MUSIC THAT NATURE IS PROVIDING YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
I'M GOING TO TEXT HALLIE AND MAKE SURE SHE'S OKAY.
THEY ARE LOUD, THEY CAN BE ANNOUNCING, THEY ARE GROUNDING
PLANES. IS THERE A SILVER LINING TO THIS
INVASION? >> THERE IS.
WHILE THEY NOT GREAT ADDITIONS TO THE BACKYARD BARBECUE, THEY
PROVIDE A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE CLIMATE.
THE FEMALES LAY EGGS IN TREE BRANCHS.
THEY HATCH AND BABY CICADAS FALL TO THE GROUND TO GO UNDERNEATH
FOR 17 YEARS. THE ADULTS DIE OFF.
THEREMNANTS ARE NUTRIENT RICH. THEY GET ABSORBED INTO THE SOIL
AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. SCIENTISTS SAY IT'S LIKE A SUPER
BLOOM EVERY 17 YEARS. FOR THOSE OF US READY TO SEE
THEM GO, THEY ACTUALLY GIVE US SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO
SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO ONCE THEY'RE GONE.