Cicadas provide food for many species, including birds, cicada killers (large wasps that hunt them), and other predators.
When millions of adult periodical cicadas emerge at once, they overwhelm their predators, ensuring that enough survive to reproduce. The last emergence of a Magicicada periodical cicada brood, Brood X, demonstrated how cicadas can influence an entire ecosystem for a short period.
While cicadas may seem like a nuisance due to their loud calls and bright red eyes, the insects deserve some respect for surviving for millions of years.
The next time you see one with black veins on its membranous wings, remember: It has spent most of its time underground, just waiting for its moment in the sun!
We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.
