A “biblical emergence” of cicadas in Chicago, Illinois, has had residents breaking out in nasty rashes, while areas of the city are “off-limits”.
Illinois saw what was described as a “biblical” arrival of cicadas earlier this year. In early to mid-May, millions of periodical cicadas began to emerge from the soil in northern Illinois for the first time in 17 years, creating plague-like conditions all over the state.
Although the winged critters have stopped wreaking havoc on the city’s streets, there’s a sting in the tail.
Speaking to NBC, cicada expert Dr Gene Kritsky said: “A particular mite known as the ‘oak leaf itch mite’ can be seen in vast quantities following a cicada emergence.”
The scientist issued a warning to Chicago residents, reminding viewers about the plague of cicadas in 2007 which saw thousands complain about bites. “It turned out that the oak itch mite was found in the egg nests of Brood XIII cicadas,” Kritsky told NBC Chicago in an email.
That exact brood was one of the two to emerge during the historic emergence earlier this year, which Kritsky described as “biblical”.
He added: “There are things I’ve seen this time that I’ve never seen before,” he said earlier this summer.”
The threat of mite-induced itchiness could well linger for months, with thousands of cicada eggs still left to hatch. “The eggs hatch six to seven weeks [after they are laid], the nymphs fall to the ground and go into the soil, and the cycle begins again,” the Natural History museum said.
Kritsky also warned Chicago’s residents should look to avoid certain “off-limit” areas of the city, if they wanted to avoid falling foul of the mites.
