Periodical Cicada: 17-Year Old With Large Eyes Apart On Head.

Brood two 17-year periodical cicada Magicicada septendecim surfacing and just after emerging from its nymphal exoskeleton. This individual was photographed in the Hudson Valley Area of New York state, June 2013.

Cicadas are insects with large eyes set wide apart on the head. They usually have transparent, well-veined wings. There are around 2,500 species of cicada around the whole world, living in temperate to tropical climates.

Cicadas make a harsh buzzing noise similar to that of crickets. throughout they are sometimes called locusts, this is incorrect. Cicadas belong to the order Hemiptera while locusts are grasshopper belonging to the order Orthoptera.

Periodical cicadas spend most of their long lives underground feeding on fluids from the roots of trees. In their 13th or 17th year, mature cicada nymphs emerge in the springtime at a particular location. Synchronously and in huge numbers after the lengthy developmental phase underground, the adults are only active for about 4 to 6 weeks.