The life cycle of the cicada is biologically bizarre. It lives underground for 5 to 17 years, depending on the species, feeding on root juices. Then, one day, for some unknown reason, it makes its way to the surface where it sheds it's body and transforms into a creature with wings. The empty body shell stays attached to the tree, fence, or whatever the cicada rested on when the Houdini-like escape took place.
I found this Cicada shell on our front porch column.
The newly winged Cicadas make their way to the tree tops where the males begin their mating calls. I suppose the louder ones are more sexy than the others because they attract the most females. After mating, the females lay their eggs on the tree branches. The newly hatched nymphs fall to the ground, burrow beneath the surface, and the cycle begins again.
1 comment:
no cicadas here but we hear crickets at night and frogs. Love night sounds. sometimes we hear an owl or hawk scream. Coyotes too but those I like best from a distance since we raise sheep
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