The cicadas are considered a superfamily of insects in order Hemiptera, more commonly known as true bugs.Cicadas are also known as Cicadoidea and are in the same suborder as bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers. Their two major species are the periodical cicadas and annual cicadas.The Great Eastern Brood of cicadas that appears throughout the eastern United States is known as Brood X. Brood X cicadas are also pronounced ‘Brood 10’. They are considered as one of the largest broods of 15 periodical broods. Brood X is also known as ‘fire-engine red eyes’. It is estimated that 2021 marks the arrival of the Brood X or Brood 10 swarm of cicadas. They are among the largest with a 17-year life cycle, numbering in hundreds of billions.Cicadas emerge from the ground, lay their eggs, and start to die afterward. Warm weather in North America brings familiar buzzing sounds of cicadas that have emerged from the underground burrow ready for the mating season.If you enjoy this article, do check how long do cockroaches live and cicada vs locust.What are cicadas?Winged insects that produce a loud buzzing sound that can be heard during the summer season are called cicadas. They live on every continent except Antarctica, and all have large bulging eyes. The wings of cicadas are transparent and veined, and cicadas can’t bite as they don’t have stingers or any chewing mouthparts.Cicadas spend most of their time underground in a burrow when they are nymphs. Usually, it is noticed that cicadas emerge from the ground after two to six weeks. Male cicadas have ribbed tymbals on their first abdominal structure. The bodies of male adults have a flexible membrane. Female adults have stylus-like organs for laying eggs.Periodical cicadas appear each year from late April through to early May. Depending on their species, periodical cicadas have a lifespan of 13-17 years. As per Scientific American, there are around seven periodical cicadas and 3,400 cicada species. The eyes of the periodical cicadas are bright red although rare cases have shown white and blue. Nymph periodical cicadas take around 13-17 years before they see sunlight again.Annual cicadas emerge in later August and last throughout the summer till August. Annual cicadas have black or green colored eyes.How long do cicadas last above the ground?When cicada nymphs are underground, they go through four different molting stages. A particular molting stage is called moth, and with every new stage of moth, they change in different ways. After these stages, the fifth and last molting stage gives cicadas their ability to fly.This happens above the ground. After this, cicadas dig themselves out of the ground and climb up near trees. Cicadas do this in order to shed their skin one last time. After emerging from the underground they live for four to six weeks above the ground.Of all species of cicadas, Brood X cicadas are born and die above the ground. They live for around 17 years. The life cycle of Brood X cicadas usually consists of their coming out in spring to mate, lay eggs, and feed. They die in July.How long do cicadas live?Cicadas are considered beneficial as they prune mature trees and aerate the soil. Periodical cicadas are a species of cicadas that appear above ground every 17 years. This group of cicadas is known to have the longest insect life cycle.They are known as homopterans. After a 17-year-old nymph cicada hatches from an egg, it burrows itself in the ground. There, the cicadas spend their first 17 years of life. After this period, they emerge from the ground for four to six weeks. After emerging from the ground they mainly carry out purposes such as mating, fertilizing, laying eggs; and the life cycle starts all over again. Periodical cicadas are not considered to be in hibernation as they are conscious underground. The activation of their wings happens as they were in wingless nymph form before. Below the ground, they excavate tunnels and feed off the sap from the tree roots.Are cicadas and locusts the same thing?No, cicadas and locusts are not the same things. Locusts are different species of insects. They belong to the same family as grasshoppers. Locusts are considered far more destructive and can cause more damage to croplands and tree roots.Compared to them, cicadas can damage young trees only if they have their large swarms as they lay eggs in the branches of the trees. Larger trees can withstand the cicadas. Locusts have longer and thinner bodies than cicadas. Cicadas are known for the loud noise they produce. The sound produced by locusts doesn’t compare to them as cicadas drone together in chorus.Why are cicadas dormant for so long?Researchers have not yet fully understood how long cicadas last or why they take so long when emerging from the ground. One of the main theories is that they stay underground to avoid predators.Cicadas emerge from the ground using predator satiation. This means that cicadas sacrifice million of brood members. This doesn’t harm the survival of their species. The reason for their emerging from the ground is to mate and to lay eggs. Their mass emergence from the ground inflicts damage on the trees.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do cicadas last, then why not take a look at how long do crickets live or bladder cicada facts?
The cicadas are considered a superfamily of insects in order Hemiptera, more commonly known as true bugs.
