The Weird Insect: CICADA 17 Years Underground | #insects #sciencefacts #facts #animals #subscribe

Cicadas are among the more unique and intriguing insects due to their life cycle and behavior. Here are some fascinating facts about cicadas:

Long Life Cycles: Some species of cicadas have remarkably long life cycles, with periods of 13 or even 17 years spent underground as nymphs. This is one of the longest lifespans of any insect.

Mass Emergence: When it is time to emerge, cicadas do so almost simultaneously, in huge numbers. This mass emergence is a survival strategy called predator satiation: so many cicadas come out at once that predators can't possibly eat them all, ensuring that enough survive to reproduce.

Loud Calls: Male cicadas are famous for their loud calls, which can reach up to 100 decibels. These sounds are produced by a structure called a tymbal on the sides of the abdominal base. The noise can be so loud it is comparable to a motorcycle close-up and is used to attract females.

Brood Mapping: Cicadas in North America are often categorized by "broods," or groups that emerge in specific years. There are 12 broods of 17-year cicadas and 3 broods of 13-year cicadas, each tracked meticulously by entomologists.

Moulting Process: When cicada nymphs emerge from the ground, they climb up nearby plants or structures and moult for the last time, shedding their exoskeletons to reveal their adult form. This moulting process can be found clinging to tree trunks or on other surfaces near cicada activity.

Symbolic Creatures: In many cultures, cicadas have been symbols of rebirth and immortality, likely due to their long underground development and sudden, dramatic emergence.

Nutrient Cycling: The emergence of large numbers of cicadas can actually benefit the ecosystem. When they die, their bodies decompose and release nutrients into the soil, significantly enriching it.

Temperature Sensitive: The timing of a cicada's emergence is closely tied to soil temperature. They generally come out when the soil 8 inches underground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).

Heat Absorption: Their dark-coloured bodies help absorb heat from the environment, which can be critical to warming them up for activity after spending years underground.

Rare Predators: Some animals have specialised in hunting cicadas, such as the cicada killer wasp, which captures them to place in their nests as food for their larvae.

Cicadas' unusual life cycles and behaviours make them a subject of both scientific study and cultural fascination.
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