You may have hoped 2020 was the peak of the surreal, but 2021 begs to differ. Nature is serving up a colossal, two-for-one cicada special this year, with two broods (Brood XIX and Brood XIII, for the nerds out there) marching to the surface after 13 and 17 years underground respectively. The result? Billions of the buzzing critters inundating our streets, disturbing the peace like small, annoying avatars of climate revenge.

For those of you in the eastern United States, our sympathy is with you. Whether you live in South Carolina or as far north as Michigan and Wisconsin, brace yourselves for nature's own entomological orchestra, broadcasting from every tree and shrub around you. And did we mention it’s happening for four to six deafening weeks?

But let us stop right there and face the incoming wave of entomo-hysteria. No, cicadas won’t bite you, give you a disease, or keep you up all night. Cicadas prefer plants and trees for mealtime, and unless you've offended the insect gods, they should leave you alone. They're known for being daytime party animals, meaning, unless you're nocturnal, your sleep patterns should remain unaffected.

Now here's where things take a turn for the somewhat absurd: eating cicadas. Yes, you read that right. For those adventurous enough, there are numerous cicada recipes floating around the internet. Yet, we do advise caution – cicadas have been known to accumulate mercury and cause gout flare-ups, so they may not be the best option for a low-carb snack. Plus, they have certain resemblances to “land shrimp” and let's agree very few of us would squeeze lemon over a platter of these crawlies.

Like it or not, the cicada invasion is upon us, offering a whimsical and slightly horrific insight into the fascinating world of insects. Our advice? Embrace the symphony, beware the edible menace, and remember – after six weeks or so, our cicada friends will bid farewell. Until next time…