Why Do Cicadas Emerge in Prime-Numbered Cycles?

💡 The Answer

• Periodical cicadas follow 13- or 17-year life cycles to avoid synchronizing with predator cycles.
• Predators have shorter life spans, making prime-numbered emergences rare and unpredictable.
• This strategy reduces predation during mass emergences and enhances mating success.
• The phenomenon demonstrates an evolutionary advantage of prime numbers in nature.