Here are five facts to know before you read more about cicadas.
1) Cicadas are insects.
1) Cicadas are insects.
John Abbott/NPL/Minden Pictures
That means they have the same parts as all insects. They have six legs, three body parts, and two antennae (an-TEN-ay).
Cicadas have wings and can fly. But they are not great at flying. So if you are running away from a cicada, don’t worry. It won’t fly after you!
They have six legs and three body parts. They have two antennae.
Cicadas have wings. They can fly. But they are not great at flying.
2) They are not dangerous!
2) They are not dangerous!
Karen Kasamauski
Cicadas may seem creepy, but they don’t bite. They don’t suck blood. They don’t have any venom, or poison.
It’s true they aren’t teeny-tiny insects. But we are much bigger than they are!
They don’t bite. They don’t have any poison.
They are not tiny insects. But people are much bigger than they are!
3) Cicadas go through a life cycle
3) Cicadas go through a life cycle
Cicadas don’t start out their lives as big, chunky insects. Their bodies change as they grow. They start as little eggs. Then nymphs (nimfs) hatch from the eggs. After that, they change into adults.
They start as little eggs. Young cicadas, called nymphs (nimfs), hatch from the eggs. Then they grow into adult cicadas.
Grant Heilman Photography/Alamy Stock Photo (Egg); ephotocorp/Alamy Stock Photo (Nymph); B Christopher/Alamy Stock Photo (Adult)
4) They spend part of their life cycle under the ground.
4) They spend part of their life cycle under the ground.
Gerry Bishop/Alamy Stock Photo
A cicada emerges from the soil.
After nymphs hatch from eggs, they crawl under the ground. They go into the soil. Some kinds of cicadas don’t stay there for very long. Other kinds stay for a long time! When they are ready, they emerge, or come out.
Young cicadas go under the soil. Some kinds of cicadas stay underground for a long time.
5) “X” is another way of writing the number 10.
5) “X” is another way of writing the number 10.
You are going to read about a group of cicadas called Brood X.
You say it like this: Brood Ten. Are you ready to read about the cicadas of Brood X?
There is a group of cicadas called Brood X. You say it like this: Brood Ten. Are you ready to read about the cicadas of Brood X?
About the Article
Science Focus
Insects, Life cycles
Building Background Knowledge
This article gives kids background knowledge that will help them better understand this issue’s Big Read nonfiction article, “The Invasion of Brood X” on page 6.
1. BEFORE READING
2. READ THE ARTICLE (10 MINUTES)
3. AFTER READING (3 MINUTES)
ELA Focus: Key Details (20 minutes)
ELA Focus: Main Idea (10 minutes)
Enrich the Learning: Paired Text (20 minutes)
