If cicadas can live as long as 11yrs. Where do they go?(and then come back?) Thank you Glenn T. for ur answer.

Question

I just realized this may answer another quest. about why I don't see many shells anymore........Let me rephrase the question....

Do Cicadas fly to another location similar to birds flying south? And perhaps in another few years I will see more shells again? (when I was a kid I'd collect the fragile shells and replace them on other things.....then they'd crush)...I love the sound and the consistancy of the sound. But half a pitch either way, might drive me insane.

Answer 1

haha i love that sound too!

but i believe that the cicadas live in the trees and underground during the 17 years that we dont see them!

they dont fly away like geese. but that would be cool if they like took a trip around then world every 17 years!

Answer 2

Cicadas spend most of their lives underground, where they live by eating on roots. Eventually they emerge from the ground, climb up a tree and molt, leaving behind the husks that you see everywhere (and kids like to play with.) When they emerge, they are the full-grown, alien-looking insect that makes a lot of noise and can't fly very good! Their entire adult life is devoted to attracting a mate and continuing the species. The male usually dies after mating, and the female dies right after she lays eggs in the tree. The eggs eventually drop from the trees, hatch, and start their lives in the ground.