THE CICADAS ARE COMING!

Cicadas are unique insects that spend most of their lives underground, emerging in large swarms every 13 or 17 years. They are often mistaken for locusts but are distinct in their lifecycle and behavior. Periodical cicadas, found only in the U.S., synchronize their emergence to overwhelm predators, a strategy known as predator satiation. Their lifecycle involves emerging, mating, and dying within weeks, ensuring survival and reproduction. This strategy also affects predator populations, like birds, which spike and crash in response to cicada emergence.

What happens to cicadas after they emerge from the ground?

Explain the concept of predator satiation in relation to cicadas.