Where Do Scissor Grinder Cicadas Go During the Winter?

Cicadas are fascinating insects known for their distinctive songs and intriguing life cycles. Among the many species, the Scissor Grinder cicada stands out due to its unique call that sounds much like the sharpening of scissors, hence its name. These cicadas are predominantly found in the central and eastern United States, particularly favoring wooded areas. As summer fades and colder months approach, many people wonder: where do Scissor Grinder cicadas go during the winter? This article dives deep into the life cycle of this intriguing insect and explores how it survives the winter months.

Understanding the Life Cycle of Scissor Grinder Cicadas

Before understanding their winter habits, it’s essential to know the general life cycle of cicadas. The Scissor Grinder cicada, like many other annual cicadas, goes through several stages:

1. Egg Stage: Female cicadas lay eggs in tree branches.
2. Nymph Stage: After hatching, nymphs drop to the ground and burrow into the soil.
3. Development Underground: These nymphs live underground for a number of years (usually 2-5 years) feeding on sap from tree roots.
4. Emergence: When mature, they emerge from the soil, climb trees or plants, molt into adults, and begin their singing phase.
5. Adult Stage: Adult cicadas live for about 4-6 weeks above ground during summer months to mate and lay eggs.

Unlike periodical cicadas which have synchronized emergences every 13 or 17 years, Scissor Grinder cicadas emerge annually, hence sometimes called “annual cicadas.”

The Fate of Scissor Grinder Cicadas in Winter

Adult Cicadas Die Off in Late Summer or Early Fall

One critical fact about Scissor Grinder cicadas is that the adult phase is relatively short-lived. After emerging from the ground and molting into adults in late spring or early summer, they live only a few weeks to a couple of months. By late summer or early fall, adult Scissor Grinder cicadas naturally die off. This means you will not see these iconic insects once colder weather arrives.

The Nymphs Retreat Underground to Overwinter

While adult Scissor Grinder cicadas disappear with the onset of cold weather, their life continues below ground. The next generation of cicada nymphs live safely underground through the winter months. Cicada nymphs burrow as deep as 1 to 2 feet beneath the soil surface where temperatures remain relatively stable compared to above ground.

The insulating properties of soil protect these immature cicadas from freezing temperatures and harsh surface conditions. The nymphs subsist by feeding on sap from tree roots during this time — a slow but steady source of nourishment that sustains them throughout their subterranean development.

How Deep Do They Go?

Research indicates that cicada nymphs typically reside around 12-24 inches below ground level to avoid freezing temperatures in winter. This depth can vary depending on soil type, moisture levels, and geographic region.

• In northern regions where winters are harsher, nymphs generally burrow deeper into the soil.
• In southern regions with milder winters, they might stay closer to the surface but still below frost lines.

The key takeaway is that the underground environment offers a safe refuge that enables them to survive winter’s cold.

Physiological Adaptations for Winter Survival

Cicada nymphs have developed several adaptations to endure prolonged periods underground during winter:

• Reduced Metabolic Rate: Their metabolism slows down significantly during colder months, reducing energy consumption.
• Antifreeze Compounds: Some studies suggest insects like cicadas can produce cryoprotectants — natural compounds that prevent ice crystal formation inside their cells.
• Moisture Retention: Burrowing underground helps them retain moisture and avoid desiccation (drying out).

Together, these adaptations allow them to survive months without food beyond their root-sap diet and withstand temperature fluctuations underground.

Why Don’t Adult Scissor Grinder Cicadas Overwinter Above Ground?

Unlike some insects that overwinter as adults or pupae above ground by finding sheltered spaces such as leaf litter or tree bark crevices, adult Scissor Grinder cicadas do not have this capability. Their physiology simply isn’t suited for surviving freezing temperatures outside soil.

• They lack antifreeze proteins found in some other insects.
• Their bodies would quickly succumb to freezing damage.
• Their main survival strategy is to spend most of their lifespan protected underground as nymphs rather than risk overwintering exposed as adults.

Thus, once their brief adult phase ends each summer/fall season, all adults die off naturally leaving only eggs or underground nymphs to continue the next generation.

Are There Any Exceptions?

In unusual mild winters or southern climates with less severe cold spells, some adult cicadas may hang around longer than expected if temperatures remain warm enough. However:

• This is rare and temporary; cold snaps will eliminate any lingering adults.
• Overwinter survival occurs almost exclusively at the subterranean nymph stage.

Impact on Ecosystems During Winter

Even though visible adult cicadas vanish during winter, their presence underground is significant ecologically:

• Nymphs help aerate soil through their burrowing activities.
• They provide food for subterranean predators such as ants and small mammals.
• Their emergence each year replenishes populations critical for bird species and other predators relying on them for sustenance in summer.

Understanding where Scissor Grinder cicadas go in winter helps highlight their role beyond just being noisy neighbors in warmer months—they’re vital components of forest ecosystems year-round.

How People Can Spot Signs of Overwintering Cicadas

If you want to observe signs that Scissor Grinder cicadas are preparing for winter or have successfully endured it underground:

• Look for egg-laying scars on tree branches in late summer/fall; these indicate where females deposited eggs before dying.
• Notice absence of adults after fall signaling end of life cycle above ground.
• In spring/summer, watch for emergence holes in soil signaling new adults ready to surface after overwintering as nymphs below.

These signs provide fascinating insights into this insect’s annual rhythm tied closely with seasonal changes.

Conclusion

So where do Scissor Grinder cicadas go during winter? The simple answer is they retreat underground in their immature nymph stage where they remain shielded from freezing temperatures until spring returns. Adult scissor grinders do not survive winters above ground; instead, new generations develop safely beneath the soil over several years before emerging again to serenade us with their distinctive “scissor sharpening” song each summer.

This remarkable adaptation—a subterranean hibernation combined with a brief but vibrant surface life—ensures Scissor Grinder cicadas continue thriving across North American woodlands despite harsh seasonal shifts. Next time you hear their iconic calls during warm months remember: beneath your feet lies an intricate cycle quietly unfolding far below until it’s time again for another chorus come summer warmth.