The Periodical Cicada

Prime Numbers

1 Introduction
The Periodical Cicada (Genus Magicicada) is native to North America. They are so
named because in any one location all of the members of the population have life-cycles
which are perfectly synchronized. They emerge from their burrows in the ground all at
once in the same year in what has been termed “the greatest mass emergence” on the
planet. What makes the Periodical Cicada even more interesting is that their life-cycles
are either thirteen or seventeen years long.

Figure 1: Periodical Cicada (Genus Magicicada)

To see this mass emergence in action check out this short video courtesy of BBC Earth
at https://youtu.be/EWr8fzUz-Yw.

Figure 2: 17 Year Periodic Cicada | Planet Earth | BBC Earth

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2 Periodical Cicada Life-cycle
The 17 year Periodical Cicada has a life cycle of 17 years. The nymphs attach themselves
to the roots of trees, live and develop underground until they are fully grown. On the
17th year the nymphs emerge from the ground in their billions. The adult Periodical
Cicadas are quite defenceless against their predators. The predators gorge themselves on
the vulnerable Periodical Cicada until they cannot eat anymore. Despite this there are
an overwhelming number of Periodical Cicadas who survive and are ready to reproduce
and start the cycle again. The Periodical Cicada emerge from the ground, lay their eggs
and die all within a few days. The next generation of Periodical Cicadas will not emerge
from the ground for another 17 years. There are other breeds of Periodical Cicadas who
have a life cycle of length 13 years. But why 13 and 17 years?

2.1 Life-cycles of Prime Length

The Periodical Cicadas have a life cycle of length either 13 or 17 years because 13 and 17
are prime numbers. Have a look at the Cicada Evolution Model below courtesy of Paul
Lutus at https://arachnoid.com/prime_numbers/index.html. This model shows the
number of Periodical Cicada with a given life-cycle length who survive their predator.

Figure 3: Cicada Evolution Model | Prime Numbers | Paul Lutus

Scientists believe that the Periodical Cicada evolved this prime length life cycle so as to
avoid times when their most common predators are present in large numbers. The most
common predators of the Periodical Cicada include reptiles, birds, squirrels and even cats.
Most of these mammals have life-cycles of length 2, 3, 4 or 5 years. By having this prime

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length life-cycle the periodical cicada prevents its common predators from synchronising
their own life-cycles in a such a way that the predators can take advantage of the mass
emergence of the Periodical Cicada. This all seems quite complicated so let’s build some
simple models.

3 Models
To keep things simple suppose that the Periodical Cicada has the following three predators
with the corresponding life-cycle lengths.

Predator Life-cycle Length

Reptile 9
Wild Cat 6
Squirrel 3

Case 1 - One Predator

Suppose that the Squirrel (S) is able to evolve to synchronize its life-cycle so that all
squirrels are born at the same time thereby maximising the population of squirrels.
Then every 3 years the squirrels will be born in huge numbers. At the same time
the 17 year Periodical Cicada (C) breeds and emerges as normal every seventeen
years.
If we begin our model at year one then the life-cycles overlap as shown below.

C S C S C S C S C S C S C S
1 1 11 11 21 21 31 31 41 41 51 51 61 61
2 2 12 12 22 22 32 32 42 42 52 52 62 62
3 3 13 13 23 23 33 33 43 43 53 53 63 63
4 4 14 14 24 24 34 34 44 44 54 54 64 64
5 5 15 15 25 25 35 35 45 45 55 55 65 65
6 6 16 16 26 26 36 36 46 46 56 56 66 66
7 7 17 17 27 27 37 37 47 47 57 57 67 67
8 8 18 18 28 28 38 38 48 48 58 58 68 68
9 9 19 19 29 29 39 39 49 49 59 59 69 69
10 10 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50 60 60 70 70

We can see that the only time that the life-cycles overlap is after 51 years. Indeed,
the life-cycles will only overlap every 51 years and never overlap at any other time.

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Exercise
Suppose that the squirrel and cicada life-cycles don’t begin exactly at the same
time and that instead the squirrel life-cycle begins at year 2. How many years will
it take until the two life-cycles overlap? Use the table below to verify your answer.

C S C S C S C S C S C S C S
1 1 11 11 21 21 31 31 41 41 51 51 61 61
2 2 12 12 22 22 32 32 42 42 52 52 62 62
3 3 13 13 23 23 33 33 43 43 53 53 63 63
4 4 14 14 24 24 34 34 44 44 54 54 64 64
5 5 15 15 25 25 35 35 45 45 55 55 65 65
6 6 16 16 26 26 36 36 46 46 56 56 66 66
7 7 17 17 27 27 37 37 47 47 57 57 67 67
8 8 18 18 28 28 38 38 48 48 58 58 68 68
9 9 19 19 29 29 39 39 49 49 59 59 69 69
10 10 20 20 30 30 40 40 50 50 60 60 70 70

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Case 2 - Two Predators
Suppose that the squirrel and the reptile are able to synchronize their life-cycles so
that all squirrels are born at the same time and all reptiles are born at the same
time. Then every 3 years the squirrels will be born in huge numbers and every
9 years the reptiles will be born in huge numbers. At the same time the 17 year
periodical cicada breeds and emerges as normal every seventeen years. We begin
our model at year one and study the overlaps of the life-cycles. This time we use a
green circle for the cicada, a red circle for the squirrel and an orange circle for the
reptile.

1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91

2 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92

3 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93

4 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94

5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95

6 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96

7 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97

8 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98

9 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

We can see that in the above model there is no year when all three life-cycles
overlap. Indeed it should now be clear that these three life-cycles will not overlap
until 9 × 17 = 153 years have elapsed. You might have noticed by now that
LCM(3, 9, 17) = 153.

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Exercise
Suppose that the reptile life-cycle begins at year 6 instead. How long will it take
until all three life cycles overlap? Use the table below to verify your answer.

1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91

2 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92

3 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93

4 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94

5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95

6 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96

7 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97

8 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98

9 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100