LIFE CYCLE OF THE CICADA

Days later, male cicadas begin singing to attract mates.

Once a perch is secured, the cicadas complete a final molt to become winged adults.

When the soil temperatures warm to 64 degrees fahrenheit, the nymphs exit the earth by the millions and climb up a tree or other support.

In the late spring of their 17th year, underground nymphs begin making their way to the surface, often building chimneys to evade ground moisture.

Mating commenses when receptive females respond to their calls.

After mating, females lay up to 600 eggs in tree branches by puncturing the wood with their ovipositors.

Trees suffer damage called "flagging" whose broken limbs resemble flags when breakage occurs from the excessive nesting.

In approximately 6 weeks, all of the cicadas will have died. Their eggs hatch about 2 months later. The newborn cicadas will then drop to the ground and burrow in for another 17 years....

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