In ancient China, cicadas symbolized resurrection and immortality. This symbolic meaning comes from its life cycle: at first it is a larva, then it becomes a cicada pupa on the ground, and finally it becomes a flying insect. The image of cicada larvae first appeared on Shang bronzes in 2000 BC. From the late Zhou Dynasty to the funeral of the Han Dynasty, people always put a cicada in the mouth of the deceased for shelter and eternal life.
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Life habits of cicadas
Cicada larvae live in the soil and have strong digging feet. The root juice of plants is pricked by the pricking device, which weakens the power of trees, makes branches die and affects the growth of trees. They usually stay underground for several years or even more than ten years, such as three years, five years, 17 years. They all have one thing in common. Are prime numbers.
This is because there are few prime factors. When cicadas dig out the soil, they can prevent other cicadas from digging out the soil together and competing for territory and food. When it's time to eclosion, drill a lookout at dusk and night, climb the tree, and then grab the bark to molt and eclosion.
When black cracks appear on the back of cicada pupa, the molting process begins. The head comes out first, then the green body and folded wings. After a short stay, the wings hardened and turned black, and then began to take off. The whole process takes about an hour. At the end of June, the larvae began to emerge as adults, and the newly emerged cicadas were green, and their longest life span was about 60 ~ 70 days.
Female adults began to lay eggs in late July, and in the middle of August, the eggs were 4-5 mm thick on the branches. In summer, they sing loudly in the trees. They use needle-like mouthparts to suck juice from their roots. Larvae inhabit the soil and suck juice from the roots, which is harmless to trees.