Cicadas The once-every-17-year orchard nuisance

The background shows the dead twigs hanging down, ready to break off with the next wind. Left is the winged Cicada emerging from its underground skin. Right is a Robin glad for the nourishment- the skin left behind by the adult- and the grass strewn with skins. Here the black, curved Ovipositor is used to drill holes in tender twigs to deposit eggs. This action will kill the twigs, allowing a wind to break the twig off and fall to the ground, where the hatched worm will enter the soil to feed on rootlets for 17 years, when it will emerge to turn into a winged adult and start the cycle all over again. This action takes place in June in the Middle Atlantic States. This shows the row of holes containing eggs which will hatch and burrow into the ground.