Eeee-ooo! Eeee-ooo! Cicadas drone on, clicking and buzzing from dusk till dawn.

There are about three thousand different kinds of cicadas on earth. Some species emerge from the ground every year, while others only come up every thirteen or seventeen years. But no matter how much time passes before they dig their way to the surface, the result is the same: up to trillions of clumsy (but harmless!) insects flying, clicking, and buzzing all around up. This story describes the life cycle of the cicada and helps readers better understand this fascinating insect.

Cicadas are medium to large insects, ranging in size from 0.8 to 2 inches. They characteristically have short antennae, two pairs of transparent wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes that form a triangle between the compound eyes. The insects do not bite or sting. Major species are generally easily recognized by differences in songs and behavior.