How Cicadas Become Flying Saltshakers of Death | Podcast | Overheard at National Geographic

After 17 years underground, so-called Brood X cicadas get a fleeting moment in the sun and commence their deafening buzz. But periodical cicadas can’t escape a silent killer: a fungus that eats them from the inside and forces them into a rabid mania. Follow National Geographic Explorer Matt Kasson as he tracks these “flying salt shakers of death,” and hear why scientists say cicadas should be respected, not feared — even if they do raise a ruckus in your backyard. Photo Credit: DARLYNE A. MURAWSKI You can also listen to the Overheard at National Geographic podcast on these platforms: ➡ ➡ Spotify: ➡ Stitcher: ➡ Google Podcasts: ➡ iHeart Radio: ➡ Castbox: ➡ Subscribe: Get More National Geographic: Official Site: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: TikTok: @natgeo Tenor: About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world’s premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what’s possible. How Cicadas Become Flying Saltshakers of Death | Podcast | Overheard at National Geographic National Geographic