Swarming insects cause highway havoc as car flips—officials issue warning
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Are swarms of “sex-crazed” bugs putting your car at risk?
Cicadas are emerging across the eastern US, creating noise and chaos.
A driver in Ohio flipped his car trying to shoo one away.
Now, police are urging motorists to keep their windows shut.
A man in Blue Ash, Ohio, crashed into a utility pole and flipped his vehicle after a cicada flew into his car.
According to the Blue Ash Police Department, he panicked and tried to swat the bug away while still driving.
“The suspect fled the scene,” police joked in a post shared with photos of the overturned silver Kia.
The crash left the car severely damaged but the driver walked away unharmed.
Cicadas are emerging en masse as part of a rare 17-year life cycle tied to Brood XIV. These periodical cicadas spend most of their lives underground feeding on tree roots.
When the time is right, they surface to molt, mate, and die within a few weeks. The University of Connecticut called this brood “dense and widespread.”
Adult cicadas measure about an inch long and are known for their red eyes and translucent wings. Males produce mating calls that can reach 90–100 decibels—about as loud as an electric drill.
It’s that time of year when male cicadas are on the lookout for a mate, police noted. Residents across the East Coast are hearing their piercing chorus day and night.
The American Automobile Association warns that cicadas are drawn to heat and can clog vehicle grilles. This may lead to blocked airflow and engine overheating in some cases.
“We’re all well aware that these pesky cicadas don’t respect personal space, including while driving,” police said.
Drivers are being told to roll up windows to avoid distractions and accidents.
If one flies into your car, remain calm and pull over safely before attempting to remove it. Swatting at a cicada while driving can lead to loss of control.
Consider keeping a napkin or towel nearby to gently shoo it away. “A cicada attack can be dangerous,” officers warned in their social media post.
Experts say there is no reason to use pesticides during this emergence. “They are not generally considered to be insect pests,” according to the University of Connecticut.
Though females lay eggs in tree branches, damage is usually minimal. Cicadas are a valuable food source for birds and part of the natural ecosystem.
Cicadas will only be around for a short time. Adult cicadas typically live for just three to four weeks. By the end of June, most will be gone and the next generation will begin its underground phase.
Until then, the buzzing will continue across states from Massachusetts to Georgia.
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Have you had a run-in with a cicada this year—on the road, in your home, or in your yard? Did one make it into your car or interrupt your plans? How are you dealing with the swarm? Share your story in the comments below and let us know how you’re surviving cicada season.
Cicadas are emerging across the eastern US, creating noise and chaos.
A driver in Ohio flipped his car trying to shoo one away.
Now, police are urging motorists to keep their windows shut.
A man in Blue Ash, Ohio, crashed into a utility pole and flipped his vehicle after a cicada flew into his car.
According to the Blue Ash Police Department, he panicked and tried to swat the bug away while still driving.
“The suspect fled the scene,” police joked in a post shared with photos of the overturned silver Kia.
The crash left the car severely damaged but the driver walked away unharmed.
Cicadas are emerging en masse as part of a rare 17-year life cycle tied to Brood XIV. These periodical cicadas spend most of their lives underground feeding on tree roots.
When the time is right, they surface to molt, mate, and die within a few weeks. The University of Connecticut called this brood “dense and widespread.”
Adult cicadas measure about an inch long and are known for their red eyes and translucent wings. Males produce mating calls that can reach 90–100 decibels—about as loud as an electric drill.
It’s that time of year when male cicadas are on the lookout for a mate, police noted. Residents across the East Coast are hearing their piercing chorus day and night.
The American Automobile Association warns that cicadas are drawn to heat and can clog vehicle grilles. This may lead to blocked airflow and engine overheating in some cases.
“We’re all well aware that these pesky cicadas don’t respect personal space, including while driving,” police said.
Drivers are being told to roll up windows to avoid distractions and accidents.
If one flies into your car, remain calm and pull over safely before attempting to remove it. Swatting at a cicada while driving can lead to loss of control.
Consider keeping a napkin or towel nearby to gently shoo it away. “A cicada attack can be dangerous,” officers warned in their social media post.
Experts say there is no reason to use pesticides during this emergence. “They are not generally considered to be insect pests,” according to the University of Connecticut.
Though females lay eggs in tree branches, damage is usually minimal. Cicadas are a valuable food source for birds and part of the natural ecosystem.
Cicadas will only be around for a short time. Adult cicadas typically live for just three to four weeks. By the end of June, most will be gone and the next generation will begin its underground phase.
Until then, the buzzing will continue across states from Massachusetts to Georgia.
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