11th April, 2024
CHIRANJIT MITRA
Get ready to solve the buzzing riddle of these bizarre insects that appear in swarms then vanish!
After eggs hatch, baby cicadas burrow underground and feed on tree roots – for years!
At the same time, entire groups, called broods, emerge as adults. It's a numbers game!
Theory 1: Confuses predators! So many cicadas appearing at once means most survive to breed.
Theory 2: It's a prime number! Less chance of syncing cycles with shorter-lived predator booms.
Emerging cicadas find mates, using their loud buzzing songs to attract one another.
Adult cicadas live a few weeks max! They mate, lay eggs, and the cycle starts again.