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9 Fun Facts

Cicadas

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The ones with a shorter life cycle, the 13-year cicadas, tend to live in the South.

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Cicadas in different regions of the eastern United States often sound slightly different, which is to be expected given that they are separated geographically.

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Male cicadas use tymbals to produce sound.

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Cicadas start their lives as eggs above ground.

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Cicadas have two large red eyes on the side of the head and three small eyes on top of the head.

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There are around 3,000 cicada species, according to National Geographic, so they vary in size from 0.75 to 2.25 in (2.2 to 5.5 cm) long.

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The loud whirring or buzzing sound you hear is an all-male cicada chorus.

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Cicadas can survive a huge fall as babies, or nymphs.

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Cicadas do not bite or sting, are benign to humans, and are not considered a pest.