Big NoiseĪ different periodical brood emerges almost every year in different parts of the country. They survive by having such a large population that predators couldn’t possibly eat them all at once. Millions-or even billions!-of cicadas might come out all at once, so these bugs aren’t trying to hide. They have black backs, orange bellies, and red eyes. Periodical cicadas live only in the central and eastern part of the United States. Called broods, these groups appear after a dormant period of either 13 or 17 years. These bugs all emerge from the ground at the same time. Only seven species of cicadas are in the other group, called periodical cicadas. These insects avoid predators by camouflaging themselves in the trees and flying from hungry birds and moles. They’re usually dark with greenish markings. Annual cicadas emerge from the ground at different times each summer. Scientists divide the over 3,000 cicada species into two groups: annual and periodical. They mate, lay their eggs, and then both male and female cicadas die after just about five weeks aboveground. The females make clicking sounds with their wings if they like the song. Next, male cicadas fill the air with shrill buzzing sounds created by rapidly vibrating drum-like plates on their abdomens. When this underground life-called the dormant period-ends, the cicadas emerge aboveground at sunset, climb the trunk of a nearby tree, and shed their skin. The nymphs stay buried to suck tree sap from two to 17 years, depending on the species. They burrow underground and attach to tree roots. After six to 10 weeks, cicada young called nymphs hatch from the eggs and immediately fall to the ground. Females lay 200 to 400 eggs in tiny holes that they make in the branches of trees and shrubs. But depending on where you live and what year it is, you might not hear just a few buzzing bugs hanging out in the trees-things might get so loud you won’t hear anything else but the buzzing! A Bug's LifeĬicadas start their lives as eggs. Have you ever heard a buzzing sound in the summertime? It might be a male cicada trying to impress a mate.
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