Did you know that when the cicada eggs are laid it takes 17 years to hatch?

Amanda, I think 17 years is their total life cycle, not how long it takes for the eggs to hatch.

I had watched a show on tv and pretty sure that once they emerge from the ground they are only around for a very short period of time - days. Will have to look it up!

Amanda, I believe I saw a program like that as well....It was on one of the learning channels....They come out of the ground every 17 or so years and then get a little busy and die.....From what I remember they only get to have a 'good-time' only once....Maybe someone else has more accurate details

http://www.pbase.com/knight_errant/cicada_central

Here we go. It seems that they exist as grubs for 17 years!

This is an amazing life cycle....I'm going to venture to guess the 17 year cycle did not start at the same time for all of them. Which is why we can see them from time to time....Maybe each generation/tribe has a different calendar date. How long to they live after emergence? Does anyone know?

Life span varies from 13-17 years, depending upon species. Upon emeregence as adults, their sole raison d'etre is to procreate & die - all within 4 to 6 weeks.