The end of a female cicada s abdomen is formed into a sword-like ovipositor. Following mating, the females lay their eggs in slits which they make in small tree twigs and branches. About a month later in the summer, the eggs will hatch, and the tiny nymphs will fall to the soil and burrow in using their enlarged front legs or climb into cracks. Cicada nymphs insert their mouthparts into tree roots from which they suck sap. No wonder it takes them so long to grow up.
Nymphs remain underground until they are ready to molt to adults.
Egg Slits in a Tree Branch Eggs in Egg Slits For these Periodical Cicadas, this takes 17 years or at least it s supposed to. Here in the Cincinnati area, the emergences of Brood X every 17 years are well-documented for at least the last 100 years, and we know that they are due, again, in 2004. However, in 1983, four years before the big 1987 emergence, there was a small emergence. Flying Cicada Children who have never seen these cicadas before and may not see them again, soon, have a natural curiosity about them. An observant person will soon realize that not all cicadas have red eyes.