Creepy Video Shows Huge Swarm of Cicadas Emerging After 17 Years Hibernation

After much anticipation, Brood X is finally here.

On the way home from the store, one woman in Silver Springs, Md. noticed that the trees in her neighborhood were covered with cicadas. Upon closer inspection, she found that the tree in her yard was no exception. The woman, Facebook user Princess Habibi, recorded and shared a video to her page that shows Brood X cicadas climbing the tree while hundreds of cicada husks litter the ground, a sight certain to make any viewer squirm.

Found only in the eastern United States, Brood X cicadas emerge once every 17 years. The University of Maryland's Cicada Crew says that this year, trillions of Brood X cicadas will emerge throughout May and June. In Maryland, the brood is already making itself seen and heard, and so far, Princess Habibi isn't the only one who's encountered the creature.

"Yeah ... we have a few cicadas up here in Silver Springs, Md.," said Twitter user Mitch Zuckerman along with photos of what looks to be hundreds of cicadas emerging from the ground.

An associate professor at the University of Maryland, Daniel Gruner, shared his own video of Brood X emerging.

Though the sight and sound of them can be terrifying, according to experts, Brood X cicadas are harmless.

According to the state of Maryland's official website, cicadas don't bite, sting or chew, so they don't pose a threat to humans, pets or most plants. During their weeks-long lifespan, cicadas shed their exoskeletons, mate and lay eggs. By mid-June, they'll all be dead. When their eggs hatch in July and August, the "tiny white nymphs" will drop from the trees and burrow into the ground where they will remain for another 17 years.

Princess Habibi told Newsweek that so far, the cicadas in her yard have stayed close to the trees. However, their population size is increasing, and as they try to mate, locals shouldn't be shocked to have one — or two or three — land on them as they walk around town.

"I read they will swarm and follow the lawnmower because they are attracted to the sound," said Princess Habibi. "[But] I haven't tried mowing."

Maryland's state government is encouraging residents to take pleasure in learning about and sharing their community with Brood X.

"I encourage all Marylanders to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about these remarkable, harmless creatures," said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in a statement. "For a few short weeks this spring, many across the state will have a front-row seat to witness a natural phenomenon that happens nowhere else on the planet."

Due to the sheer size of the swarm, it seems as though Marylanders will receive a front-row seat whether they like it or not.