“[God] doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number.” Job 5:9.
The periodical cicada has the longest life-cycle of all insects and is seen just once every 13 or 17 years. They appear mostly in the northeastern United States, but show up in the Midwest and northern California as well. The Pilgrims were aware of them, but never understood how they could disappear for so long a time.
Most people become aware of them in early summer when they come out of the ground (sometimes millions of them), climb tree trunks or anything upright, and shed their skins. In the next few hours their bodies harden as their large wings unfold, growing stronger and colorful. They can then fly short distances into trees.
Males make an ear-piercing buzzing song to attract females. The shrill notes are not made with their mouths, but are produced by vibrating drum-like membranes on the underside of their bodies. Sometimes males will group together, producing a chorus of song. At times they will suddenly become totally silent for several seconds as if by signal and then all begin their buzzing again.
These one-and-a-half-inch to two-inch-long insects with bulging eyes are harmless to people, but do serious damage to tree branches. The females make deep slits on the underside of twigs and branches for depositing their eggs. A few weeks after the eggs are laid, the outdoors gradually becomes quiet again as their life cycle is over and they begin to die. Their work of producing a new generation is completed.
After about two months the eggs hatch and the little nymphs drop to the ground. They immediately dig little tunnels into the soil where they disappear from sight, not to be seen for another 13 or 17 years, unless someone uncovers a few when digging in the soil. What do they live on down in the soil all those years? As far as scientists can tell they live entirely on moisture sucked out of tree roots, and this satisfies both hunger and thirst. This does not seem to hurt the tree roots.
Incidentally, there is another species of cicada which has a shorter life span, staying underground for only two to five years. These are called dog-day cicadas. Their buzzing songs are heard in late summer.
The more we discover and investigate the great variety of animals, birds, fish and insects the Creator has placed on the earth, the more we are impressed with His wisdom in not only creating them, but in caring for them as well. We should say like King David did many years ago, “I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works.” Psalm 9:1.
ML-03/03/1991