La dieta dei cicati varia a seconda dell'età
Al centro degli Stati Uniti, si verifica ogni 17 o 13 anni un evento naturale straordinario, noto come l'emergere periodico della cicala Magicicada. L'ultima di queste manifestazioni, Brood X, ha dimostrato l'impatto profondo che questi insetti possono avere su un ecosistema, anche se solo per un breve periodo.
Queste cicale sono interessanti non solo per il loro ciclo vitale unico, ma anche per i loro richiami di accoppiamento rumorosi, che sono i più forti di qualsiasi insetto e tra i più forti del regno animale. A breve distanza, i loro richiami sono stati misurati oltre i 105 decibel - comparabili al rumore dei motori delle motociclette e degli attrezzi elettrici a breve distanza.
despite their loud calls, Magicicada cicadas do not significantly damage plants. However, their egg-laying behavior can harm young trees. Female cicadas use a saw-like structure to cut into tree branches and lay their eggs inside.
Despite their loud calls, Magicicada cicadas do not significantly damage plants. However, their egg-laying behavior can harm young trees. Female cicadas use a saw-like structure to cut into tree branches and lay their eggs inside.
When millions of adult periodical cicadas emerge at once, they overwhelm their predators, ensuring that enough survive to reproduce. This massive emergence also provides a significant food source for birds and other animals.
In addition to their impact on the ecosystem, cicadas play a crucial role in aerating the soil when they emerge. Their burrowing actions help improve soil structure and increase water infiltration, benefiting the environment in ways that are still being researched.
However, it's important to note that Magicicada cicadas are not found in Germany; they are native to the United States. Despite this geographical limitation, their unique life cycle, loud mating calls, and significant role in the ecosystem make them a fascinating subject of study for entomologists and naturalists worldwide.
