About Cicadas

• Taxonomy: Belong to the order Hemiptera and superfamily Cicadoidea. Known as true bugs with piercing-sucking mouthparts and two pairs of wings.
• Life Cycle:
  • Cicadas spend most of their lives underground, feeding on plant sap.
  • Underground phase lasts 13–17 years for certain species.
  • Emergence marks their adult stage, primarily for reproduction.

Habitat and Distribution

• Habitat: Prefer natural forests with large trees and are typically canopy dwellers.
• Geographic Spread: Found on all continents except Antarctica.
  • Diversity: India and Bangladesh host the highest genetic diversity of cicadas, followed by China.

Unique Emergence Patterns

• Emergence Types:
  • Periodical Cicadas: Three species emerge every 17 years, and another three every 13 years.
  • Dual Emergence: Two species emerge simultaneously, a rare occurrence.
  • Triple Emergence: Three species emerge together, an event occurring for the first time in 1,547 years.
• Environmental Role:
  • Enhance soil aeration by creating exit holes during emergence.
  • Improve tree health by enriching soil with organic material left after their emergence.

Characteristics

• Non-Threatening: Do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases.
• Ecological Importance:
  • Act as natural tree gardeners, promoting tree growth.
  • Create pathways for rainwater and nutrients to penetrate the soil.

Context of Triple Emergence

• The first triple emergence in recorded history occurred recently in North America, last seen as a dual emergence in 1803.
• This rare phenomenon highlights the synchronicity and complexity of periodical cicadas’ life cycles, making them key indicators of environmental and ecological health.