The call of annual cicadas is a familiar sound on hot, summer days. Males are best known for their incredibly loud mating calls, created by a specialized sound-producing organ known as the tymbal that is located on the abdomen. As adults, cicadas have a fairly short lifespan and have only a few weeks to mate and lay their eggs. Despite the loud sound, their cryptic camouflage makes them incredibly difficult to spot, especially when calling from a tree or other vegetation. Have you been able to c

Wait for it ... billions of Brood X cicada nymphs are emerging from the ground in 15 states — a natural phenomenon that only occurs every 17 years. After feeding off tree roots for nearly two decades, the nymphs crawl out of the soil and climb trees and other vertical structures in search of a suitable place to shed their shells. Molting takes several hours. After it has emerged from its carapace, the cicada must wait several more hours for its body and wings to harden. *** In this time-lapse fo