Get All Access for $5/mo

Cicadas are Bugging out Parts of the Country, Forcing Some Business Owners to Close Shop Trillions of cicadas are emerging in the U.S. after a 17 year hiatus.

By Euni Han

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Bloomberg Creative Photos | Getty Images

In Washington D.C., Michelin-star restaurant Little Pearl in Capitol Hill says it's temporarily closing because of cicadas, according to the Washington Post. Rose's Restaurant Group owner and chef Aaron Silverman says around 80% of the restaurant's seating is outdoors in a "heavily vegetative area."

"We have decided to pause service at Little Pearl for 4 weeks starting May 10th in preparation for cicada season … As we tried to get as creative as possible to combat them this year, we know in good faith that a single 100 decibel cicada will ruin anyone's dinner experience, a "tsunami' of them will be impossible to control."

The restaurant is offering customers refunds on bookings and options to reschedule or transfer reservations to sister restaurant Rose's Luxury.

Meanwhile, other businesses are embracing the cicadas (known as Brood X) by selling coffee mugs and "Choco-cadas." Taking the "if you can't beat "em, then eat "em" approach, Chef Joseph Yoon is sharing recipes through his Instagram account Brooklyn Bugs with tasty dishes like Cicada Nymph Spring Salad and Cicada Nymph Chile Guacamole. YUM.

The cicada masses are expected across 15 states from Indiana to Kentucky to New York as ground temperatures reach 64 degrees. The bugs spend about 4 to 6 weeks above ground which means they won't be around too long. Cicadas don't bite and aren't harmful to people --- but they can get noisy and be a buzzkill for outdoor diners.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

'You Own Nothing Here on Social': Meta Outage, Looming TikTok Ban Has Creators Questioning How Much of Their Business They Really Control

With repeated tech outages and a possible TikTok ban on the horizon, creators are looking for new ways to influence. Turns out, one old-school way still reigns supreme.

Business News

Here's What the CPI Report Means for Your Wallet, According to JPMorgan and EY Experts

Most experts agree that there will be another rate cut next week.

Leadership

3 Ways Your Parenting Skills Can Improve Your Leadership Skills

Parenting and management offer valuable lessons in identifying talent, nurturing potential and fostering growth through encouragement and guidance.

Growing a Business

How Connecting With the Right Audience Drives Long-Term Business Success

Here's how targeted lead generation can help you unlock higher conversions, stronger brand loyalty and scalable growth.