Eggs are laid into the small twigs of trees and shrubs. The eggs hatch after 6 to 7 weeks and the newly hatched nymphs fall to the ground, burrow until they find a suitable tree root, and begin the feeding and waiting that will last until the year 2014. Periodical cicadas are well-known for the incredible noise they make when they emerge. With populations that can reach up to a million and a half cicadas per acre, the sound can be as deafening as it is incessant. The cicada males sing by vibrating two shell-like drums located along the sides of the abdomen.
Strong muscles vibrate the drum membranes several times per second.
The resulting high-pitched, rapid clicks are resonated through air sacs and other structures to control sound volume and quality. The upward angles of the wings form a megaphone-like chamber that further controls the sound. Periodical cicadas are found only in North America and only east of the Rocky Mountains. Witnessing a massive outbreak takes patience and planning but is worth the wait. Refer to the accompanying map for the expected distribution of Brood III in Iowa.