Periodical Cicadas

Periodical Cicadas

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14)

Probably most of us have heard the sounds made by cicadas. In many areas, a familiar part of summertime is hearing their loud rasping noises coming from high up in the trees. There are many kinds of cicadas, and the particular sounds they make help to identify which species is calling. 

Did you know that cicadas spend most of their lives underground? After the young cicada hatches from its egg, it drops down from the tree onto the ground and quickly crawls into the dirt. There it feeds on the sap it sucks from tree roots. As it grows, the cicada molts (sheds its skin) several times. 

Finally the cicada is ready to become an adult. After digging up to the surface of the ground, it crawls out of the dirt for the first time. Then it molts one final time and becomes an adult cicada. You might have found one of these cicada "shells" attached to a plant or the bark of a tree. 

Cicadas live for only a few weeks or months after becoming an adult, but they spend a lot more time than that underground. Did you know that periodical cicadas -- those shown in these pictures -- stay underground for either thirteen or seventeen years, depending on the species? That's a long time to wait underground before becoming an adult! How patient the cicada must be to wait for the right time to come up out of the ground! 

The Bible tells about a man who had to be very patient for a long time. David was still a young shepherd boy when Samuel anointed him to be king. It wasn't until many years later, when he was thirty years old, that David finally became king. Many young men would have become impatient with the delay, but not David. He chose to patiently wait until the right time --God's time. 

It might seem that it takes a long time for God to work out His plan for your life. Be patient and cooperate with Him. He knows the end from the beginning, and He has a wonderful plan for your life. 

This article provided by:  My Bible First.

To purchase books about nature from My Bible First click here.

Related Articles

More From Genesis

Butterflies & Moths

Most moths are out and about at night, while butterflies are usually on the wing in the…
Butterflies & Moths

Osprey

 The osprey, or fish hawk, is the only daytime-hunting bird of prey that feeds almost…
Osprey
Blue Marlin

Blue Marlin

Some creatures seem to have everything now! We wonder what God's original plan was for them;…
Blue Marlin

Lightning Bug

The not-by-accident design of the flashing mechanism of the lightning bug is far superior to…
Lightning Bug
Hemlock Trees

Hemlock Trees

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his…
Hemlock Trees

Kinkajou

I had never heard of a kinkajou—the little creature without a bad odor—until a neighbor got…
Kinkajou

Ravens

One wonders WHY God created the raven with an intelligence which they often use manipulatively…
Ravens
American Robin

American Robins

"He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Did you ever see a bird nest in a tree? How did that nest get…
American Robins

Tigers

It's really not by accident that the powerful tiger was chosen the world's "favorite animal"…
Tigers

Toucans

"Excuse me, excuse me!"
Toucans

Gardening Ants

Another fascinating relationship, which has been observed in nature, concerns the Bull's Horn…
Gardening Ants

The Miracle of the Heavens

The initial shock of stellar majesty inspires a new appreciation for the word awesome.
The Miracle of the Heavens

Roseate Spoonbill

There are six kinds of spoonbills, but the only kind you'll find in the Western Hemisphere…
Roseate Spoonbill

Bears

For some of God's creatures it is definitely not by accident but rather part of God's design…
Bears

Northern Cardinal

A person would have to have a heart closed to beauty not to enjoy the sight of the gorgeous red…
Northern Cardinal
Love Birds

Love Birds

The name "Lovebird" is an excellent brief description of colorful, pint-size parrots that make…
Love Birds

Seagulls

The size of seagulls can vary from 11 to 31 inches in length, and researchers say there are…
Seagulls

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation