π¦Insects
Periodical Cicadas Have Extremely Long Life Cycles
Some species of periodical cicadas spend 13 or 17 years underground as nymphs before emerging en masse as adults for a few weeks to mate.
About this fact
Periodical cicadas (genus Magicicada) have one of the longest insect life cycles. After hatching, the nymphs burrow underground and feed on tree root sap for either 13 or 17 years, depending on the species. Then, in a synchronized emergence, millions emerge at once, molt into adults, mate, lay eggs, and die, all within a few short weeks. This mass emergence strategy is thought to overwhelm predators.