What’s red and black and seen all over? Millions and millions of cicadas. These big chunky insects are popping out of the ground across the eastern U.S. And they were all born exactly 17 years ago.

There are more than 3000 species of cicadas around the world. Most live for three to five years. But seven species in the eastern U.S. live for either 13 or 17 years. That’s longer than almost any other insect!

Class of 2004

This month, a giant brood of 17-year cicadas completes its life cycle. They were all born in 2004.