As the third graders of Cumberland Elementary in the Chicago suburbs colored, clipped and glued paper to make cicadas with filmy wings, they confided their fears about what is about to happen in Illinois. “Some people think cicadas can suck your brains out,” said Willa, a red-haired 8-year-old in a Star Wars T-shirt. “They’re going to be so loud,” Christopher, 9, said as he colored his cicada intently. “I hate noise.” “It’s kind of scary,” Madison, 8, said while picking through markers scattered on a green table.

“What if they do something to me?”