Sound of cicadas: Rare insect emergence brings buzz 'unlike any in nature'

What’s that sound? Is it the eerie sound of an alien spaceship landing nearby? A white-noise soundtrack for people who have trouble falling asleep? Or is it the distinctive chorus of millions of cicadas emerging to culminate their life cycle? The answer is C, and Mississippi State University insect experts say the unusual ambient noise will likely be gone by summer.

In addition to the insects themselves, the emergence of a periodical 13-year cicada brood has brought with it extra noise across the Magnolia State as males search for mates before dying off throughout June.