How Do Cicadas Reproduce? A Detailed Explanation of Their Reproduction Method and Process

The cicada is what everyone calls the cicada; it parasitizes various trees, and once summer arrives, it produces a sharp and loud chirping sound. So, how do cicadas reproduce?

1. How do cicadas reproduce?

Cicadas reproduce by means of eggs. After mating, the female cicada uses her needle-like ovipositor to pierce the bark and lays her eggs inside tender twigs; the branches that are pierced wilt and die, then fall to the ground. After the eggs hatch into nymphs, they attach themselves to tree roots and feed on tree sap for a living. After 2 to 3 years, the nymphs grow and develop to maturity. After the summer solstice, they emerge from the soil to the surface. About 2 to 4 hours after emerging, the mature nymphs molt and become adult cicadas.

2. The Economic Value of Cicadas

Cicada sloughs are rich in chitin, protein, amino acids, organic acids and so on, and are often used to treat conditions such as externally contracted wind-heat, cough with hoarse voice, sore and swollen throat, rubella with itching, red eyes with eye opacity, tetanus, infantile convulsions, and incessant night crying. In the ancient Book of Rites there are also records of eating cicadas; at that time cicadas were not only food for ordinary commoners but also became a delicacy at the banquets of rulers and nobles, and to this day many places still retain the custom of eating cicadas. There are many ways to eat cicadas; they can be braised and roasted, or pan-fried and deep-fried. Like earthworms, grasshoppers, ants, bean worms, silkworm pupae and other insects, they are all high-protein foods. According to measurements by nutritionists, cicadas contain as much as 72% protein, making them a natural nutritional product.

Because cicadas can bring considerable economic value, there are currently quite a few people engaged in artificial breeding. During breeding, whether the cicada egg branches are preserved well directly affects the hatching rate and the physical constitution of the cicada ants, so it must be taken seriously.