Bugs aren’t exactly our favorite thing, but they are a fact of life. Usually we’re okay with them as long as they stay outside and don’t bite us. If they leave us alone, then we’ll leave them alone too.

While we can easily ignore bugs like bees as long as we don’t get too close to the roses, we have to prepare ourselves to deal with other pests, like mosquitos. It’s okay. We know the drill. Bug spray and citronella candles are our friends.

Bees and mosquitoes are among the bugs that we see every year. We’re used to them. Then there are cicadas.

Cicadas are unusual. Unlike most other bugs, they aren’t something we see every year. In fact, they have been living underground for the past 17 years. If you’re old enough and if you live in the eastern half of the United States, you may remember seeing them almost 2 decades ago.

Cicadas are back. They have emerged from the ground, and it is full on mating season. There are billions and possibly even trillions of cicadas in the eastern United States right now, and if you’re skittish around bugs, it might be a little bit terrifying.

People are sharing pictures of what these swarms of cicadas look like, and in some cases, children are scared to play outside because of them. If it makes you feel any better, you can rest assured that cicadas are harmless. They won’t bite you or sting you. It’s just a little disturbing seeing so many bugs that we’re not used to seeing and seeing them pretty much everywhere.

If you don’t have cicadas where you live, scroll down to see some pictures of what this infestation looks like and be glad you’re not experiencing it. If you do have cicadas outside your home, these pictures might reassure you that you’re far from the only one experiencing this phenomenon right now.

1. Imagine for a second if these things had stingers… Corona in these states would be gone in two weeks.#cicadas #CoronavirusPandemic https://t.co/qIKYTv9xK4 pic.twitter.com/lNHocl678e

   — Drew Miller (@TwinDadLifer) May 19, 2021

2. Cicada watch 2021: All outdoor runs are canceled until further notice <crunch, crunch, crunch> pic.twitter.com/vIDomKNPPI

   — Liz Engel (@LizCinciBiz) May 24, 2021

4. @ms_ziggyIF ANYONE IS WONDERING WHERE ALL THE CICADAS ARE… THEY ARE AT MY HOUSE… PLEASE COME GET THEM

   ♬ original sound – ms_ziggy

5. My Mom sent me this pic of the #cicadas at their house and i said I’d see them in July pic.twitter.com/Wlby95Typb

   — Ange thee Pange (@ange_le_pange) May 25, 2021

6. Cicada content! Check out base of tree. #broodx #cicadas pic.twitter.com/7w9STedxxK

   — KK Nichols (@KTKNichols) May 20, 2021

7. People who live in non-infested cicada lands: It can’t be that bad.My front yard: pic.twitter.com/DjqKaYXtjM

   — 🖤 Sash 🖤 (@SashMoon83) May 24, 2021

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   A post shared by Ilana G (@ilanaahh)

9. What does a pile two feet deep of #cicada look like you ask? #CicadaBroodX #CicadaWatch2021 pic.twitter.com/6uVffKq0CM

   — MelissaScholesYoung (@mscholesyoung) May 24, 2021

10. My dad sent me this photo from Maryland. Yes, those are all cicadas. Yes, I will not be coming home until they all go back underground. pic.twitter.com/zW3q9c50fl

    — Sasha Jones (@aSashaJones) May 18, 2021

11. Cicadas are taking over around my house! pic.twitter.com/3uGInnhXez

    — Kristopher Sandlin (@ksandlin10k) May 22, 2021

12. Fairfax, VA. This is intense. 2yo won’t play outside, he just stands in one spot and yells “I have cicada trouble!!!” 😱 @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/J2sSAN1SCD

    — Bethany Adamec (@BethanyAdamec) May 20, 2021

13. Greetings from Olney. Do you also have the constant sound like a far off car alarm? pic.twitter.com/ahxFhyG49l

    — b1joe (@b1joe) May 20, 2021