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Health & Fitness

The Year of the 13-Year Cicada

Thousands upon thousands of cicadas are taking their places on our plants this spring.

If the repeated tornadoes and intense storms aren't enough for you, this is also the year of the 13-year cicada.

If you were outside anywhere last week, you may have noticed these creatures covering the leaves of many plants.

When I walked into my backyard in Fenton Sunday morning, witnessing all of my unwelcome guests, I couldn't help but get the camera out and take some photos.

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The range of periodical cicadas covers most of the United States east of the Mississippi River and includes Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Periodical cicadas lay their eggs on numerous tree species, favoring oaks, hickory, honeylocust, hawthorn, dogwood, apple, peach, pear, elm, ash, walnut and sycamore.

Biology of the Cicada
(taken from the MU Extension, University of Missouri)
MUextension.missouri.edu/xplor

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"Cicadas are heavy-bodied, wedge-shaped insects that have large compound eyes and membranous wings held rooflike over the body. Periodical cicada adults range from 0.75 to 1.5 inches in length. They have a brownish-black body, unspotted from the top, and reddish colored eyes, legs and wing veins. They have a 13-year or 17-year life cycle.

"After hatching, the nymphs drop from the twigs to the ground, enter the soil and begin feeding on sap from the roots. A nymph will remain underground at a depth of 2 to 18 inches until it is ready for its last molt. Before its final molt to the adult stage, the nymph will emerge from the ground, leaving a finger-sized round hole, and climb up the trunk of a tree, fence post or side of a house and attach itself with its claws. The exoskeleton will split down the middle of the back and the adult will gradually pull itself free, leaving the cast skin still attached to the substrate. The adults can live from five to six weeks.

"Occasionally, the cicada nymph, just prior to its emergence, will construct earthen chimneys or towers above the soil surface. These towers are about 2--4 inches tall with a diameter of about 1.5 inches and are sealed at the top. This occasional tower-building habit of the nymph appears to be influenced by shallow soil, the proximity of the nymph to the surface, conditions of unusual warmth which brings the nymph prematurely to the soil surface, or excessive soil moisture. One may find a cicada tower surrounded by holes from which individuals emerged without making a tower.

"Male periodical cicadas will begin "singing" shortly after their emergence (from late-May to early-July). This song, a mating call that is different for each species, is a rhythmical shrill that is produced by two drum-like membranes on the sides of the first abdominal segment. During outbreak periods the cadence of the male chorus can be quite loud and incessant. The singing begins at dawn and ceases at evening. As the temperature rises during the day the volume of the singing also increases."

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