This female cicada was laying eggs today on the spicebush outside our house. She makes a small slit in the stem, then deposits eggs in the opening. The eggs remain on the twig for a few weeks, then the nymphs hatch out and fall to the ground. Here, they burrow down into the soil and live for thirteen years, feeding on tree roots. The Class of ’24 is underway.

Magicicada tredecassini depositing eggs from the tip of her abdomen

And, for some remarkable timelapse photography of an emerging cicada, see Mark Dolejs’ Vimeo post.