Cicadas spend the vast majority of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on sap from tree roots. The time they live underground varies by species:
- Periodical cicadas in North America spend either 13 or 17 years underground before emerging
- Some Australian species may live underground for about 6-7 years
- Annual cicadas have lifespans ranging from 2 to 8 years, with some emerging every year
Once cicadas emerge above ground as adults, their lifespan is very short:
- Adult cicadas live only about 3 to 6 weeks above ground , just long enough to mate, lay eggs, and die
- Most sources cite about 4 to 6 weeks, with some variation depending on species and environmental conditions
In summary, cicadas live underground for many years (from several to up to 17), but their adult life above ground lasts only a few weeks.
