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Suppose the cicadas come out every C years and a predator comes out every P years. Then the life cycles of the predator and the cicadas will coincide every LCM(C, P) years. The predator will want it to happen as often as possible while the cicadas want that to happen as seldom as possible. If C is co-prime with P then the cycles coincide after CP years - which is best for the cicada.

Suppose the cicadas come out every C years and a predator comes out every P years. Then the life cycles of the predator and the cicadas will coincide every LCM(C, P) years. The predator will want it to happen as often as possible while the cicadas want that to happen as seldom as possible. If C is co-prime with P then the cycles coincide after CP years - which is best for the cicada.

Suppose the cicadas come out every C years and a predator comes out every P years. Then the life cycles of the predator and the cicadas will coincide every LCM(C, P) years. The predator will want it to happen as often as possible while the cicadas want that to happen as seldom as possible. If C is co-prime with P then the cycles coincide after CP years - which is best for the cicada.

Suppose the cicadas come out every C years and a predator comes out every P years. Then the life cycles of the predator and the cicadas will coincide every LCM(C, P) years. The predator will want it to happen as often as possible while the cicadas want that to happen as seldom as possible. If C is co-prime with P then the cycles coincide after CP years - which is best for the cicada.

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10y ago

Suppose the cicadas come out every C years and a predator comes out every P years. Then the life cycles of the predator and the cicadas will coincide every LCM(C, P) years. The predator will want it to happen as often as possible while the cicadas want that to happen as seldom as possible. If C is co-prime with P then the cycles coincide after CP years - which is best for the cicada.

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Q: Why do cicadas come out during prime number years?
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What other theoies have been put forward to explain why cicadas wait a prime number of years before emerging?

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How did the cicadas decide that they would wait a prime number of year before emerging?

To think of cicadas as "deciding" something is anthropomorphizing; that is, using words that describe human attributions with things that don't really think as humans do. What probably happened is that those cicadas which happened to have a prime number cycle tended to avoid having predators match their periodic appearances and so increased relative to those that didn't, and as a consequence, got eaten. This is Natural Selection. Incidently, only Periodic cicadas have prime number cycles (17 or 13 years); there are also Annual cicadas which as their name implies, appear every year.


What other theories have been put forward to explain why cicadas wait prime number of years before emeging?

I dont now i need some one to tell me :(


What other theories have been put forward to explain why cicadas wait a prime number of years before emerging?

The periodic cicadas spend most of their lives as underground nymphs, only emerging after 13 or 17 years, most likely to reduce losses by satiating their predators.The evolutionary strategy used by cicadas of the genus Magicicada make use of prime numbers. These insects spend most of their lives as grubs underground. They only pupate and then emerge from their burrows after 7, 13 or 17 years, at which point they fly about, breed, and then die after a few weeks at most. The logic for this is believed to be that the prime number intervals between emergences make it very difficult for predators to evolve that could specialize as predators on Magicicadas. If Magicicadas appeared at a non-prime number intervals, say every 12 years, then predators appearing every 2, 3, 4, 6, or 12 years would be sure to meet them. Over a 200-year period, average predator populations during hypothetical outbreaks of 14- and 15-year cicadas would be up to 2% higher than during outbreaks of 13- and 17-year cicadas. Though small, this advantage appears to have been enough to drive natural selection in favor of a prime-numbered life-cycle for these insects.


Why do cicadas wait a prime number of years before coming out?

Cicadas likely evolved to have prime-numbered life cycles as a strategy to avoid synchronization with other insect species or predators. By having longer life cycles that are not easily divisible by other common periods, cicadas can reduce competition and increase their chances of survival and reproduction. This unique adaptation may have provided an evolutionary advantage, leading to the prevalence of prime-numbered life cycles among cicadas.


How many years do cicadas sleep?

Cicadas typically spend around 2 to 17 years underground in their nymph stage before emerging as adults. This period of dormancy is known as their "sleep," during which they feed on plant roots and undergo stages of growth and development.


Do all cicadas stay underground for 17 years?

No, not all cicadas stay underground for 17 years. There are different species of cicadas that have different life cycles, ranging from 2 to 17 years underground before emerging as adults.


How often do cicadas appear?

ANSWER:They appear about 7-9 years. Some larvae stay underground for 13 years and others for 17 years.


What insect comes out every 7 years?

Cicadas


How many total years during ones teen gets is a person an age that's a prime number?

three


What insect wakes up every 13 to 17 years?

You probably mean cicadas that remain underground for 17 years, emerge, lay eggs and die


What is a group of cicadas called?

A group of cicadas is called a "brood." Each brood emerges in synchronized cycles, with different species having different emergence schedules, often ranging from 2 to 17 years.