AP PHOTOS: Cicadas swarm parts of US as the screaming insects emerge in Brood XIV's 17-year cycle

CINCINNATI (AP) — Another cicada invasion is here. The large Brood XIV, which emerges every 17 years, is making for a spectacular natural event as billions of periodical cicadas emerge across parts of the Eastern U.S., including in Georgia, southern Ohio, Kentucky, Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and Long Island, New York.

When spring warms the soil to 64 degrees Fahrenheit (about 18 degrees Celsius), these cicada nymphs dig their way up to the surface after their long development period.

On the right night, usually after a warm spring rain, near trees showing cicada pilot holes and chimneys, they will emerge — so many that they can be heard crunching through the grass to climb up trees, plants, people or any vertical surface. There is a forceful quality about it.

Once they find footing, they begin the molting process. They shed their nymphal skin, emerging soft, vulnerable and pale yellow. They have two large red eyes on the sides of the head, three small, jewellike eyes called ocelli in the center, and gossamer wings. In a few hours, their bodies harden and darken, and they fly up to the treetops.

Then the screaming begins — the loud buzzing, screaming sound males make when they are looking for a mate. It leaves ears ringing.

Throughout this process, cicadas serve as a source of protein for both wildlife and humans. They survive by sheer numbers.

After mating, females lay eggs in tree branches and die shortly after. The hatched tiny nymphs fall and burrow into the ground, and the cycle begins again.

Cicadas are part of the magic of spring when the yellow and purple irises are blooming, and the green is new and vivid. The cicada show takes place in every light of the day and the dark of night. The pull is the power and beauty of nature and time.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

A and periodical cicada flies to a branch of an American Sweetgum tree in the Valley View Nature Preserve, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Milford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A and periodical cicada flies to a branch of an American Sweetgum tree in the Valley View Nature Preserve, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Milford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada, shortly after shedding its nymphal skin, clings to iris leaves, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada, shortly after shedding its nymphal skin, clings to clover on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A periodical cicada flies up from the grass pursued by a cardinal, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada is silhouetted as it flies from a mushroom top on Friday, May 16, 2025, in Loveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Periodical cicadas fly and gather on a Eastern Redcedar tree at Valley View Nature Preserve, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Milford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A robin flips a periodical cicada nymph from the grass and into its mouth, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A male bluebird picks a periodical cicada nymph from the grass, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A female bluebird picks a periodical cicada from the grass, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada pauses on a twig at Valley View Nature Preserve, Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Milford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada, shortly after shedding its nymphal skin, climbs up the leaves of an iris flower, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada, shortly after shedding its nymphal skin, climbs up iris leaves, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada crawls on an iris flower, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada crawls on an iris flower, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada, in the process of shedding its nymphal skin, is seen on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Cincinnati. There are two large compound eyes, which are used to visually perceive the world around them, and three small, jewel-like, simple eyes called ocelli center. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An adult periodical cicada sheds its nymphal skin and clings to the trunk of a maple tree, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Periodical cicada nymphs and adults are silhouetted on the underside of a begonia plant after a heavy rain, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Periodical cicada nymphs and adults are seen on the underside of a begonia plant after a heavy rain, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)https://epix.ap.org/#

Periodical cicada nymphs and adults are seen on the underside of a begonia plant after a heavy rain, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Periodical cicada nymphs climb the trunk of a maple tree to shed their nymphal skins after a heavy rain, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Periodical cicada nymphs climb mushrooms after a heavy rain, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Loveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The veins of an adult periodical cicada's translucent wings are illuminated shortly after shedding its nymphal skin after a heavy rain, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The veins of an adult periodical cicada's translucent wings are illuminated shortly after shedding its nymphal skin, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A a muddy-faced periodical cicada nymph climbs the truck of a maple tree after a heavy rain, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Loveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A periodical cicada nymph climbs to the end of a fern frond, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A periodical cicada flies from a branch of an American Sweetgum tree in the Valley View Nature Preserve, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Milford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Chargers 8-7-1; Broncos 6-9-1.

Series record: Broncos lead 72-58-1.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Broncos 23-20 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, California.

Last week: Chargers lost to Texans 20-16; Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13.

Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (T-16).

Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (7).

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (19), pass (9), scoring (14).

Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (8), scoring (4).

Turnover differential: Chargers plus-4 ; Broncos minus-5.

QB Trey Lance is making his sixth career start and first for the Chargers. He's appeared in three games this season, completing 7 of 13 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and two sacks.

WR Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 yards last week, but he dropped a touchdown pass and caught just four of the 10 passes Bo Nix threw his way. Sutton has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven TDs this season, a similar output to last year when he caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight TDs.

The Chargers offensive line and backup QB versus Denver's dominant pass rush. The Broncos have had a franchise-record and NFL-best 64 sacks so far and are within striking distance of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, who had a dozen in their season finale that year.

Chargers: Coach Jim Harbaugh said he's sitting QB Justin Herbert (left hand) for the finale along with several other starters. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed practice time this week as did CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OL Jamaree Salyer (hamstring). Harbaugh said he doesn't expect Salyer to play Sunday.

Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury and won't play in the finale. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee) and DL John Franklin-Meyers (hip) were limited in practice this week.

The Chargers have won all three games against Denver and Sean Payton with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. All three have been one-score games.

The Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season, the first time that's happened since they reached the postseason four consecutive times from 2006-09. ... The Bolts are coming off a 20-16 loss to Houston in which they were 2 of 5 in the red zone while the defense allowed a pair of rare long touchdown passes to open the game. K Cameron Dicker missed a field goal from inside 40 yards for the first time in his career and pulled an extra point wide for the first time this season. ... The Chargers are the only team that's unbeaten (5-0) in the AFC West this season. ... RB Omarion Hampton has a touchdown in three of his past four games. ... WR Quentin Johnston is coming off a 98-yard performance in Week 17. ... WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 3. ... The Broncos were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and can earn the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win Sunday. The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the division. ... Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 23. With a win Sunday, he'll tie Russell Wilson's NFL record of 24 wins in his first two seasons. ... Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. ... Nix is the third player ever, joining Herbert and Peyton Manning, with 3,500-plus passing yards and 25 or more TD passes in each of his first two NFL seasons. ... RB RJ Harvey leads rookies with a dozen TDs this season. He's scored a TD in five consecutive games. ... LB Nik Bonitto had two sacks in Week 3 against the Chargers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden (86) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)