Cicadas are the masters of prime numbers – how maths plays a role in nature

I recently came across an article that I thought was a fascinating read worth sharing. It describes the tendency for a small number of species of cicadas to have mass emergences in multi-year cycles that correspond with prime numbers like 7 (in Australia), or 13 and 17 (in North America). Although the potential evolutionary reasons put forward to explain these patterns remains contested among scientists, fortunately two of the more popular theories (predator avoidance or prevention of hybridisation) are underpinned by the same mathematical logic.

To learn more about that logic and how it challenges our conception and understanding of maths in nature, please follow this link to the original article from the Conversation.

Further, this article in the Sydney Morning Herald talks about why this is expected to be a be a big summer for the Greengrocer Cicada in some parts of Australia.

You can also discover a little more about the incredibly long life cycles of periodical cicadas in North America, and the rarity of the 2024 dual emergence that occurred earlier this year, from this short BBC video. Enjoy!