Life Cycle of a Cicada: Complete Guide to Eggs, Nymphs, Molting, and Adult Survival

The life cycle of a cicada is one of the strangest and most patient stories in the insect world. A cicada begins as a tiny egg hidden inside a tree branch, then drops to the ground as a young nymph and disappears into the soil. For months, years, or even 13 to 17 years in some species, it lives underground and feeds from plant roots. Only near the end of life does it climb out, shed its old skin, grow wings, sing, mate, and lay eggs.

Most people notice the cicada bug only when the loud adult males begin calling from trees. But that noisy summer stage is just the final chapter. The long-hidden stage beneath the soil is where the real survival work happens.

Cicadas are not harmful to people. They do not sting, and they are not the same as cicada killer wasps. They are also not locusts, even though some people still use that old name. Scientifically, cicadas belong to the insect family Cicadidae, and their life cycle has three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult.

Quick Answers: Most Common Questions

Q: How long is the life cycle of a cicada?

A: It depends on the species. Some cicadas complete their development in a few years, while famous periodical cicadas emerge after 13 or 17 years underground.

Q: What are the main stages of the cicada life cycle?

A: The main stages are egg, nymph, and adult. The nymph stage is the longest because the young cicada lives underground and feeds from tree roots.

Q: Do cicadas bite or sting humans?

A: No. Cicadas do not bite or sting people. They may look big and noisy, but they are not aggressive insects.

Quick Life Cycle Table

The History of Their Scientific Naming

The scientific naming of cicadas comes from the long history of classifying insects by body structure, wings, mouthparts, and sound-making behavior. Cicadas belong to the family Cicadidae, known for their loud calls, clear wings, short antennae, and piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Important naming points include:

• Cicadas are insects in the order Hemiptera, the group often called “true bugs.”
• They are part of the superfamily Cicadoidea.
• The family name Cicadidae is used for the family of main cicadas.
• Periodical cicadas belong to the genus Magicicada, which includes the famous 13-year and 17-year species of North America.
• The word cicada itself has been used for centuries and is linked with ancient writing, summer sound, and seasonal change.

The name Magicicada fits these insects well because their mass emergence can feel almost magical. After years of silence underground, millions may appear at nearly the same time. This makes their scientific naming closely tied to their unusual life cycle, not just their body shape.

Their Evolution And Their Origin

The origin of cicadas goes deep into insect evolution. Cicadas are part of the true bug group, meaning they share a basic feeding style with insects such as leafhoppers and aphids. They use piercing mouthparts to take liquid food from plants rather than chewing leaves like caterpillars or grasshoppers.

Over time, cicadas developed a life strategy different from that of many other insects. Instead of growing quickly aboveground, they moved much of their development underground. This provided them with protection from many surface predators, weather changes, and seasonal food shortages.

One of the most famous evolutionary puzzles is the 13-year and 17-year cicada life cycle. These prime-number cycles may help periodical cicadas avoid matching the life cycles of many predators. When they finally appear in huge numbers, predators cannot eat them all. This survival method is often called predator satiation. The idea is simple: emerge together in such large numbers that enough adults survive to mate and lay eggs. Scientific studies continue to examine how these long cycles evolved and stayed so synchronized.

Most cicadas around the world are not 13-year or 17-year cicadas. Many are often called annual cicadas because adults are seen every summer, but that does not always mean each insect lives for only one year. In many species, nymphs still spend multiple years underground before adults appear.

Today, more than 3,000 cicada species are known worldwide, living in forests, grasslands, deserts, and warm temperate areas. Their long history shows how insects can survive by hiding, waiting, timing their appearance, and emerging only when nature offers the best chance.

Their main food and its collection process

Cicadas are plant-fluid feeders. They do not eat leaves in the way many insects do. Instead, they use sharp, straw-like mouthparts to drink liquid from plants.

Their main food changes slightly with life stage, but the source remains connected to trees and woody plants.

• Nymphs feed underground: Young cicadas attach to tree roots and feed on xylem sap, a watery fluid moving through the plant. This sap is not rich like fruit juice, so nymphs must feed slowly and steadily for a long time.
• Adults also use plant fluids: Adult cicadas can take small amounts of fluid from twigs and branches. They do not chew leaves, flowers, or fruit.
• They depend on healthy trees: Because nymphs live near roots, forests, orchards, and tree-filled areas are important for their survival.
• Feeding is done with piercing mouthparts: Cicadas insert their mouthparts into plant tissue and draw liquid. This is why they are placed in Hemiptera, the true bug order.
• Young trees can be affected by egg-laying: Adult feeding is usually not the main problem. The greater risk for young, small trees comes when female cicadas cut slits in twigs to lay eggs. Heavy egg-laying can cause twig tips to die or break.

Cicadas do not hunt, bite people, or feed on blood. They are not like mosquitoes, ticks, or flies. Their food collection process is quiet and plant-based for most of their life.

This feeding method also explains why the nymph stage lasts so long. Root fluid is available but low in energy. A cicada grows slowly underground, molts several times, and waits until its body is ready for the short adult stage.

Important Things That You Need To Know

Many people search for cicadas using different names and related terms. Some are correct, and some can be confusing. Here are the most important points to understand.

A cicada is a true bug with clear wings, a broad head, large eyes, and a loud male song. The adult sound is often the easiest way to notice it. When people say cicada bug, they usually mean the adult insect seen on trees during warm months.

The phrase cicada life cycle refers to the full journey from egg to underground nymph to winged adult. This life cycle is special because the longest stage is hidden underground. In periodical cicadas, that hidden stage can last 13 or 17 years.

A cicada killer is not a cicada. It is a large wasp that hunts cicadas. The cicada killer wasp may look scary because of its size, but it is a distinct insect with its own life cycle. Female cicada killer wasps paralyze cicadas and place them in underground nests as food for their young.

The phrase cicada COVID variant is also separate from insect biology. In recent health reporting, “Cicada” has been used as a nickname for SARS-CoV-2 subvariant BA.3.2, but that name refers to a virus nickname, not to the insect. For health questions, official medical guidance should be followed rather than insect-related content.

So, when reading about cicadas, always check the context. Cicada, cicada bug, cicada killer, cicada killer wasp, and cicada covid variant do not all mean the same thing.

Their life cycle and ability to survive in nature

Egg stage

The life cycle of a cicada begins when the adult female lays eggs in small cuts inside twigs or young branches. She uses a sharp egg-laying organ called an ovipositor to place eggs safely in plant tissue.

After several weeks, the eggs hatch. The tiny young cicadas do not stay in the tree. They fall to the ground and quickly search for soil cracks or soft areas where they can burrow.

Nymph stage

The nymph is the early, wingless stage. This is the longest and most important survival stage. Nymphs live underground, usually near plant roots, where they feed on root fluids.

They have strong front legs for digging. As they grow, they molt, shedding their outer skin. Cicada nymphs usually pass through several growth stages before becoming mature enough to emerge. Britannica describes cicadas as having egg, nymph, and adult stages, with nymphs feeding on roots and molting before reaching adulthood.

Emergence and molting

When the nymph is ready, it moves toward the soil surface. Many periodical cicadas emerge when the soil warms enough, often in spring or early summer. USDA notes that periodical cicadas emerge in 13- or 17-year cycles and live aboveground for only a few weeks.

The nymph climbs a tree trunk, fence, grass stem, or other vertical surface. Then its old shell splits open. A pale adult slowly pulls itself free. Its wings expand and harden. The empty brown shell left behind is called an exuvia.

Adult survival

Adult cicadas survive by timing, sound, and numbers. Males call loudly to attract females. Females choose mates, lay eggs, and the adults die after a short period.

Their survival strategy is not about fighting. It is about waiting underground, emerging at the right time, and producing enough offspring to continue the cycle.

Their Reproductive Process and raising their children

Cicadas do not raise their young as birds, mammals, or social insects do. There is no nest care after the eggs are laid. Their reproductive success depends on timing, safe egg placement, and large numbers.

• Male calling begins first: Adult male cicadas produce loud songs using special sound organs called tymbals. These calls help females find males of the same species.
• Females respond and mate: Females do not sing in the same loud way. After mating, the female searches for suitable twigs or small branches.
• Eggs are placed in plant tissue: The female cuts narrow slits and lays eggs inside. This provides the eggs with some protection from the weather and predators.
• One female can lay many eggs: Depending on the species, a female may lay hundreds of eggs across several twigs.
• No parental care follows: After egg-laying, the adult female does not guard the eggs. The adults soon die.
• Young nymphs begin life alone: When eggs hatch, the tiny nymphs drop to the ground and burrow into the soil. From that moment, each nymph must find roots and feed by itself.

This may sound risky, but it works because cicadas produce many young and often emerge in large groups. In periodical cicadas, synchronized emergence gives them a better chance of mating before predators eat too many adults.

Their “child raising” is really a strategy of placement and timing. The parent does not directly protect the young. Instead, she leaves them in a place where the next stage can begin.

The importance of them in this Ecosystem

Food for wildlife

Cicadas are an important food source for many animals. Birds, reptiles, mammals, fish, spiders, and other insects may eat them. During mass emergencies, predators suddenly have a food supply.

This can help local wildlife, especially during the breeding season for birds and other animals.

Soil improvement

When cicada nymphs tunnel underground, they help loosen and aerate soil. These tunnels can improve water movement and create small air spaces. After adults emerge, the holes remain as part of the soil structure.

Nutrient recycling

After adult cicadas die, their bodies break down and return nutrients to the soil. This natural recycling can benefit plants and soil organisms.

Tree connection

Cicadas are closely tied to trees. Their nymphs feed from roots, and adults use branches for egg-laying. In healthy forests, this relationship is usually part of the natural cycle.

However, young or newly planted trees may need protection during heavy years of periodical cicadas, as egg-laying can damage small branches.

Natural timing signal

Cicadas are also seasonal signals. Their songs mark warm weather, breeding cycles, and ecological change. Because periodical cicadas emerge on long schedules, scientists and nature watchers use their timing to study climate, habitat change, and forest health.

As of 2026, major U.S. periodical cicada emergence is expected to be quiet, with no major Magicicada brood scheduled, though off-cycle stragglers may appear. The next major emergence listed by Cicada Safari is Brood XXII in 2027.

What to do to protect them in nature and save the system for the future

Cicadas are part of a healthy natural system. Protecting them also protects soil, trees, birds, and many other small creatures connected to the same habitat.

• Protect mature trees: Cicadas depend on tree roots as nymphs and tree branches as adults. Keeping old trees healthy helps future generations survive.
• Avoid unnecessary pesticide use: Spraying broad insecticides can harm cicadas and many helpful insects. Most cicada emergences do not need chemical control.
• Cover young trees during heavy emergence years: Use fine netting around small or newly planted trees before females begin laying eggs. This protects weak branches without killing cicadas.
• Do not destroy emergence holes: Small holes in the soil are normal during cicada season. They are part of the natural process.
• Leave some leaf litter and natural ground cover: Healthy soil supports roots, fungi, insects, and underground life.
• Teach children that cicadas are harmless: Many people fear large insects because they do not understand them. Cicadas may be loud, but they are not dangerous.
• Support local forests and native plants: Native trees provide better long-term habitat for local cicada species.
• Report unusual periodical cicada sightings: In areas with periodical cicadas, reports can help researchers map broods and stragglers.
• Do not confuse cicadas with pests that need removal: Cicadas are temporary visitors aboveground. In most cases, they should be watched rather than destroyed.

Saving cicadas does not mean letting young trees suffer. It means using smart, gentle protection while allowing the larger Ecosystem to keep working.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the life cycle of a cicada?

A: The life cycle of a cicada has three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs are laid in branches, nymphs live underground, and adults emerge to mate and lay eggs.

Q: How long do cicadas live underground?

A: Some cicadas live underground for a few years. Periodical cicadas are famous for spending 13 or 17 years underground, depending on the species.

Q: Why do cicadas make loud sounds?

A: Male cicadas make loud sounds to attract females. Their sound comes from special body parts called tymbals.

Q: Are cicadas harmful to humans?

A: No. Cicadas do not sting or bite people. They may land on someone by mistake, but they are not aggressive.

Q: Do cicadas damage trees?

A: Adult cicadas usually do not kill healthy mature trees. However, females can damage small twigs when laying eggs, especially on young trees.

Q: What do cicada nymphs eat?

A: Cicada nymphs feed on xylem sap from tree roots while living underground.

Q: Is a cicada killer the same as a cicada?

A: No. A cicada killer is a wasp that hunts cicadas. A cicada is a plant-feeding insect.

Q: Is the cicada covid variant related to cicada insects?

A: No. The phrase cicada covid variant refers to a nickname used for a SARS-CoV-2 variant in health reporting. It is not related to the insect’s biology.

Conclusion

The life cycle of a cicada is a rare example of patience in nature. Most of its life is spent hidden underground, feeding quietly from tree roots and growing through slow stages. Then, when the time is right, it rises from the soil, sheds its shell, opens its wings, and fills the trees with sound.

Cicadas may seem strange, but they are not useless or dangerous. They feed wildlife, improve soil, recycle nutrients, and remind us how deeply connected insects are to forests and seasons. Their short adult life is only one part of a much longer story.

To protect cicadas, we need to protect trees, soil, and natural spaces. We also need to understand them before fearing them. The next time you hear a cicada calling from a tree, remember: that sound may have taken years to reach the surface.

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