Cicada crawls across neck of reporter before live-cross

Imagine you're about to go on television to speak to an entire nation.

And then imagine that your job requires you to be straight-laced, dignified and direct.

Then imagine you can feel something crawling on the back of your neck.

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That's what CNN political reporter Manu Raju experienced last night.

As he was preparing to go to air, a cicada started crawling up his coat, then his shirt collar, then the back of his neck.

It takes him a moment to notice, but when he does, his reaction is priceless.

"Had an unwelcome visitor try to crawl into my live shot earlier," he tweeted afterwards.

Raju was not outside in a swamp or paddock during the unpleasant encounter. He was inside Congress in the heart of Washington DC.

Unfortunately for Washington residents, there are literally billions of cicadas blanketing the region right now.

The Brood X cicadas are emerging for the first time in 17 years, and they are everywhere in DC.

Bad news for the dozens of other reporters who do live-crosses from Washington every day.

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