What Is a Cicada Queen
A cicada queen is the adult female periodical cicada responsible for laying eggs after mating. She uses her ovipositor to cut slits in tree branches, where she deposits eggs. After egg-laying, the female cicada queen typically dies, completing her role in the reproductive cycle.
Lifecycle and Emergence
Periodical cicada queens emerge with nymphs after 13 or 17 years underground. Males sing to attract females, and mated queens lay eggs in woody branches. The eggs hatch, and newly emerged nymphs drop to the soil, burrow down, and begin the long underground feeding phase again.
Ecological and Economic Impact
Mass emergences of cicada queens provide food for predators and help prune young trees. The large numbers can affect local agriculture and forestry, with some orchard owners protecting trees during emergence years. Researchers study these cycles to understand population dynamics and forest ecology.
