Periodical Cicada – 17-year Cicada

Periodical (or 17-year) Cicada

Latin Name:  Magicicada septendecim

Common Name: Periodical cicadas

Appearance:

The life cycle of cicadas is unknown to entomologists. Periodical cicadas need 13 or 17 years to grow from the nymph stage, which is underground. Every 13 or 17 years, they all appear at the same time. They are the world’s longest-living insects, with a lifespan of 17 years. Periodical cicadas are divided into two races based on how long it takes them to mature into adults: 17-year cicadas that emerge in the north and 13-year cicadas that appear in the south.

• Periodical cicadas are easily recognizable by their stunning black bodies, red eyes and orange wing veins.
• They have six legs and antennae and may grow 1 to 2 inches long.
• Annual cicadas, which are black and green and emerge every year, should not be confused with periodic cicadas.

Territory:

According to Penn State University, the periodical cicada (Magicicada) is a native North American insect genus that can be found only in the eastern United States.

Damages caused by periodical Cicada:

Periodical cicadas are only regarded as nuisance pests but besides their vast numbers. They do not bite or sting humans and they are not a health hazard. The most prevalent complaints are periodical cicadas’ loud behavior and skin peeling. Cicadas are America’s loudest insect, with their “singing” being heard up to 12 miles away. 17-year-old cicadas can potentially harm young trees.

Description about Leaf chewers:

Insect chewing damage to plants can take numerous forms. Foliage or flowers may vanish when certain insects eat them. Occasionally, the plant will appear ragged and, upon closer inspection, will reveal bitten edges or cores. Plants can be cut at the root and topple over, or twigs can be girdled and die as a result. Mining or boring is the process of causing harm to a plant through chewing. Only the upper or lower surfaces are sometimes destroyed, producing a brown, burned look or skeletonization (openings between the veins).

Life History and Habits:

The last time the 17-year periodical cicadas appeared in the Chicago area was in 2007. Nymphs emerge from the earth when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit, usually in May. After emerging from the ground after dusk, they immediately crawl to any nearby vertical structure, ideally a tree or bush, leaving behind highly apparent exit holes. They moult into adults and lose their skins, leaving behind empty shells. Their wings unfurl shortly after shedding, and their yellow-white skin darkens as their exoskeleton hardens completely. Adults begin mating after they have fully matured, which takes only a few days, and they live for three to four weeks. Females ascend to live trunks, branches, and twigs shortly after mating, splitting the bark and depositing between 24 and 48 eggs. Adult females can mate multiple times and lay up to 600 eggs during their lifetime. Ant-like juveniles hatch six to ten weeks after the eggs are placed and fall to the ground, where they dig from a few inches to more than a foot into the earth. They spend years as nymphs underground, feasting on tree and shrub roots.