Cicadas, Though Harmless, May Cause Paralysis
By Laurie Tarkan, New York Times
In 2004, when the cicadas of Brood X crawled out of the ground in and around Washington, Lori Milani, then a full-time student, would not set foot outside her apartment. Terrified of insects, she shut her windows tight, sometimes with the blinds drawn, for five weeks. She stocked up on food, canceled her summer classes and had friends run essential errands for her.
“It was truly horrible. I know that they are harmless, but they’re disgusting,” said Ms. Milani, who has suffered from a fear of bugs, or entomophobia, as long as she can remember.
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