The very peculiar life cycle of these periodic cicadas is exceptional. They only emerge from the ground every 13 or 17 years.
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It is a natural phenomenon, but rare. In the spring of 2024, billions of cicadas will emerge from the ground in 16 states in the central part of the United States, especially Maryland, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and especially Illinois. These cicadas live underground in larval form. than 10 years. Unlike the annual cicadas we know from southern France, these periodic cicadas emerge from the ground only every 13 or 17 years. A special phenomenon this year is that seven species of these periodic cicadas appear at the same time.
From mid-April, billions of cicada larvae emerge in the open and moult to transform into adult cicadas equipped with wings, which then fly to trees for the breeding season. And there we must, say the specialists, expect their song to make a noise like a motorcycle.
The very peculiar life cycle of these periodic cicadas is exceptional. It refers to only about ten species of cicadas out of 3,000 recorded on Earth and is found only in North America. One theory says that it is a collective survival strategy. These periodical cicadas are fragile and are prized by many birds of prey, mice, squirrels and other lizards. This collective departure, every 13 or 17 years, would be a guarantee that at least some of them would survive the attacks so that the next generation could be formed.
No danger to nature
This sudden appearance of billions of cicadas is unlikely to harm the vegetation. Cicadas are not locusts, they do not attack leaves, but in small quantities they feed on tree sap, which does not harm them. This massive occurrence of cicadas should, on the contrary, provide certain services to nature. Studies have shown that the holes cicadas make on their way out then improve the infiltration of rainwater into the soil.
No need to use pesticides to get rid of them, entomologists remind the American media. These cicadas do not sting or bite. After four to six weeks in the open, they die. So there’s just the risk of being a bit noisy, but we could take advantage of that because it won’t happen until 2037.